by A fencer was disqualified by a US women’s film because he had refused to compete against a transgender opponent in an incident that has become online.
The situation developed last Sunday in College Park in Maryland in the suburb of Washington in the Cherry Blossom tournament at the University of Maryland.
Stephanie Turner, who fights for the Fechtakademie of Philadelphia, took on a knee instead of fighting against Redmond Sullivan of the legendary fencing club in a pool game.
Turner, who fought in the competition against four earlier fights, was disqualified according to the rules of the international fencing associations, and the fencers did not compete.
Sullivan took 24th place among 39 participants in the competition.
“I knew what I had to do because USA did not listen to the objections of women,” Turner told Fox News Digital.
USA Finging for transgender athletes created in 2023 enables the athletes who change from male to female, in order to only take testosterone impression treatment at women’s events after one year, with evidence of such therapy.
Turner also said that she expected that her decision would not compete against a transgender opponent.
“It will probably destroy my life, at least for a moment,” she told Fox News. “I don’t think it will be easy for me from now on. I don’t think it will be easy for me during training. It is very difficult for me to do that.”
Turner’s actions praised the retired tennis legend Martina Navratilova, who repeated the video about the knees on social media.
“That happens when athletes protest!” Navratilova posted on X. “Everyone here still thinks that this is fair?
The video was posted by the independent Council on Women’s Sports and showed how Sullivan and Turner spoke shortly after the knee.
“When I took the knee, I looked at the referee and said, ‘I’m sorry. I can’t. I am a woman and that is a man and this is a women’s tournament and I will not be able to tire this person,” Turner told Fox news.
“Redmond didn’t hear me and he comes up to me and he believes that I am being hurt, or he doesn’t understand what happens. He asks: ‘Are you doing well?’ And I said, “I’m sorry.
– dialogue ‘important’ – –
In an explanation of Fox News, USA Finging said that his non-binary athlete policy should “expand access to fence and create integrative, safe spaces.
“We respect the points of view on all sides and encourage our members to continue to share them with us while the matter is developing. It is important that the fencing community is committed to this dialogue,” it said.
“But we expect this conversation to be held respectfully, be it in our tournaments or in online rooms. The way to progress is due to respectful discussion based on evidence.”
USA FINGING said Newsweek that Turner’s disqualification was not “with a personal statement”, but “the direct result of their decision to lean a legitimate opponent”, under violating the rules of the Federation, which prescribe the disqualification.
“We remain committed to inclusiveness in our sport and at the same time keep every requirements dictated by our management body,” it says, adding that there was a “developing” conversation about the participation of the transgender in the sport.
“USA fencing will always be wrong on the side of inclusion,” it said.
“We are obliged to change politics because more relevant evidence -based research results or as political changes in the broader Olympic and Paralympic movement are effective.”
JS/JHB
