A female fencer was disqualified from a tournament in Maryland this past weekend after she took a knee and refused to compete against a transgender-identifying male opponent.
Redmond Sullivan, who is male and identifies as transgender, was allowed to participate in the female tournament per USA Fencing rules, the organization confirmed to The Daily Wire. Sullivan formerly competed with males, and quickly won the top prize at Connecticut Division Junior Olympic Qualifiers last year after switching to female fencing, according to the Daily Mail.
Sullivan’s female opponent, a young woman from the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia, refused to compete against the male and was presented with a black card, meaning she was disqualified from the entire event, a source relayed to The Daily Wire and USA Fencing confirmed.
The Daily Wire asked Bryan Wendell, the director of communications for USA Fencing, why the female fencer, who’s been identified as Stephanie Turner, was not merely presented with a loss for the forfeited bout, but instead kicked out of the tournament.
“In the case of Stephanie Turner, her disqualification was not related to any personal statement but was merely the direct result of her decision to decline to fence an eligible opponent, which the FIE rules clearly prohibit,” Wendell said. “USA Fencing is obligated to follow the letter of those rules and ensure that participants respect the standards set at the international level. We remain committed to inclusivity within our sport while also upholding every requirement dictated by our governing body.”
Wendell’s email signature includes “Pronouns: He, Him, His.”
Pro-female X account ICONS obtained video of the protest and disqualification and posted it online Wednesday:
🤺🚨Historic Protest: Female Fencer Takes a Knee in Bout Against Male Opponent, Faces Immediate Disqualification
After receiving a black card for refusing to compete against a man, Redmond Sullivan’s female opponent was expelled from the @USAFencing event at the Univ. of… pic.twitter.com/IloSnrb2Iu
— ICONS (@icons_women) April 2, 2025
USA Fencing also sent the following email to The Daily Wire concerning their rules for trans-identifying athletes:
USA Fencing enacted our current transgender and non-binary athlete policy in 2023. The policy was designed to expand access to the sport of fencing and create inclusive, safe spaces. The policy is based on the principle that everyone should have the ability to participate in sports and was based upon the research available of the day. We understand that the conversation on equity and inclusion pertaining to transgender participation in sport is evolving. USA Fencing will always err on the side of inclusion, and we’re committed to amending the policy as more relevant evidence-based research emerges, or as policy changes take effect in the wider Olympic & Paralympic movement.
We respect the viewpoints on all sides and encourage our members to continue sharing them with us as the matter evolves. It’s important for the fencing community to engage in this dialogue, but we expect this conversation to be conducted respectfully, whether at our tournaments or in online spaces. The way to progress is by respectful discussion based in evidence.
Related: I Was Injured By A Trans Athlete. State Legislatures Need To Do More To Protect Women’s Sports
