Fencer disqualified for the refusal to compete against the opponent Transgender
A shielder was disqualified by a female competition in the United States after refusing to compete against a transgender opponent.
Stephanie Turner took one knee as a sign of protest after remaining on the track in front of Redmond Sullivan at the University of Maryland.
She was shown to her a black card and informed that she would not have been allowed to continue in the women’s tournament.
The rules of the FIE (International Fencing Federation (FIE) say that a screens is not authorized to refuse to fence another refined properly inserted for any reason.
Use Fencing, who issued his transgender and non -binary policy in 2023, said: “Politics is based on the principle that everyone should have the ability to participate in sport and is based on the available research of the day”.
He added: “Fencing of the United States will always be wrong on the side of inclusion and we commit ourselves to modifying politics when a more relevant research based on evidence emerges, or when political changes have effect in the wider Olympic and Paralympic movement”.
Explaining his decision, Turner – of the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia – he said Fox News, external: “I saw that I would be in a swimming pool with Redmond, and from there I said:” Ok, let’s do it. I’ll take my knee. “
“I knew what I had to do because the U.S. fencing had not listened to women’s objections (his policy of admissibility of gender),” he added.
“When I took the knee, I looked at the referee and said: ‘I’m sorry, I can’t do it. I am a woman, and this is a man, and this is a female tournament. And I will not detach this individual.'”
Responding to Turner’s disqualification on March 30, US Fencing said: “In the case of Stephanie Turner, his disqualification, which applies only to this tournament, was not related to any personal declaration but was simply the direct result of his decision to refuse the fence of a suitable opponent, that the Fie rules are clearly prohibited.
“Fencing of the United States is obliged to follow the letter of these rules and ensure that the participants respect the standards established internationally. We remain engaged in inclusiveness within our sport, also supporting all the requirements dictated by our government body.”
While the Cherry Blossom competition was held at the University of Maryland, it was not a NCAA event.
In February, the NCAA he changed his policy To say that only “student-athletes assigned to birth” will be authorized to take part in collegial competitions, after the President of the United States Donald Trump signed an executive order prevent transgender women from competing in female sports categories.
Turner has competed in over 200 fencing matches, including the national championships, while Sullivan, of the Wagner College, won 18 of its 45 previous attacks. It ranked 24th out of 39 screens at the Maryland event.
