A female chop was disqualified from her tournament after having taken a knee and refused to compete with a transgender opponent.
USA Fencer Stephanie Turner was to face Redmond Sullivan at the Cherry Blossom tournament held at the University of Maryland.
However, while the match was about to start, Turner took a knee and removed his mask during a demonstration during the female foil event in division 1A.
She later showed a black card which means that a player is immediately excluded from the competition and suspended for the rest.
Turner had finished four games before facing Sullivan, who finally placed 24th out of 39 in the competition.
Speaking of his decision, Turner said: “I saw that I was going to be in a swimming pool with Redmond, and from there, I said:” Ok, let’s do it. I’m going to take the knee ”.
A female dodgeman was disqualified from her tournament after taking a knee and refused to compete with a transgender opponent
USA Fencer, Stephanie Turner, was to face Redmond Sullivan at the tournament
Sullivan changed university teams last year and has since materialized women
“I knew what I had to do because the American fences had not listened to women’s objections. I took one knee immediately at that time. Redmond (Sullivan) had the impression that I was going to start fencing.
“So when I knee, I looked at the referee and said,” I’m sorry, I can’t do that. I am a woman, and he is a man, and it’s a female tournament. And I will not close this individual.
“Redmond did not hear me, and he approaches me, and he thinks that I could be injured, or he doesn’t understand what’s going on. He asks: “Are you okay?” And I said, “I’m sorry. I have a lot of love and respect for you, but I will not close you.
However, shortly after, USA Fencing produced a statement in support of Sullivan and transgender participation in sport.
The declaration indicates: “American fences promulgated our current transgender and non -binary policy in 2023. Policy was designed to extend access to fencing sport and the creation of safe and safe spaces.
“Policy is based on the principle that everyone should have the capacity to participate in sports and was based on available research for the day.
“We understand that conversation on equity and inclusion concerning transgender participation in sport is evolving. American fences will always be mistaken on the side of inclusion, and we are committed to modifying policy as research based on more relevant evidence emerge, or that policy changes take effect in the wider Olympic and Paralympic movement.
“We respect the views on all sides and encourage our members to continue sharing them with us as the question evolves. It is important that the community of fences engages in this dialogue, but we expect this conversation to be respectfully carried out, whether in our tournaments or in online spaces. The way to progress is by a respectful discussion based on evidence.
Turner immediately took a knee and withdrew his mask before facing Sullivan
Sullivan was transferred from the male team of Wagner College to the women’s team last year
“In the case of Stephanie Turner, his disqualification was not linked to any personal declaration, but was only the direct result of his decision to refuse to close an eligible opponent, that the rules of fie (International Feneration of Fences) clearly prohibit.
“American fences are forced to follow the letter of these rules and guarantee that participants comply with the standards established internationally. We remain attached to inclusiveness in our sport while respecting all the requirements dictated by our director organ.
The transgender athlete Sullivan previously made the headlines in December after making the decision to go to the women’s team of his college.
This came after competing for the women’s teams from Daniel Hand High School in Madison, Connecticut in athletics events.
The transfer had been criticized by the legend of tennis Martina Navratilova and the independent council on female sport (icons).
Navratilova, who is gay, expressed his opposition to allow transgender women to participate in female sports and says that they have an unfair advantage.
Sullivan seemed confused and asked Turner what was going on during the tournament
“And again …”, she wrote in an article on X referring to a Reduxx report on Sullivan.
Since its inauguration, Donald Trump has signed decrees demanding that the federal government recognizes only two sexes and another entitled: “Keeping men out of female sports”.
In this last order, the Trump administration has promised to cancel the financing of any institution which allows trans athletes to participate in female sports. The ordinance orders the Ministry of Justice to ensure that all government agencies apply a prohibition of Trump’s interpretation of Title IX, a law against sexual discrimination in education.
Since then, NCAA has changed its policy and has now limited women’s sports to students assigned to birth.
