A fencing was disqualified because he refused to fight a transgender opponent »the reaction of a tennis legend:” shame “
Article by David Istrate – published on Friday, April 04, 2025, 16:09 / Updated Friday, April 04, 2025:14
Stephanie Turner, a fencing, was disqualified from a tournament in Maryland, after refusing to duel with a Transgender opponent. The American fencing federation has transmitted that it followed the rules of the International Federation.
On Sunday, March 30, at a regional tour at the University of Maryland, Stephanie Turner refused to duel with a Transgender opponent, Redmond Sullivan, kneeling and transmitting to the referee he will not fight.
Stephanie Turner knelt down and refused to fight: “I can't do this”
As a result of the gesture made by Turner, the American fencing federation made the decision to disqualify it from the tournament. It continued with Sullivan in the competition and The Transgender Scrimera ranked 24th out of 39.
“In the case of Stephanie Turner, her disqualification, which is applied only for this tournament, has not been related to any personal statement, but was simply the direct result of her decision to refuse to fight an eligible opponent, which is clear to the rules either,” said USA Fencing, according to Reuters.
Turner also explained the moment that led to her disqualification:
“Redmond had the impression that I would start fighting. When I knelt down, 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 this is a tournament for women. So I will not fight this individual »“, Said the fox News fox.
🤺🚨historic protest: Female Fencer Takes a Knee in Bout Against Male, Faces Immediate Disequalification
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
The video with Turner kneeling and the decision taken by the American Federation quickly made the world, causing numerous reactions. One of them belongs to Martine Navratilova, the legend of world tennis.
“This is what happens when the athletes protest! Is there someone who thinks it's right? I'm nervous. Shame, USA Fencing, shame because you did that. How dare you throw women under the shit bus of the genre !!!”, Wrote the former world leader on X.
In February Donald Trump, the President of the United States of America, signed an executive order which stipulates that transgender persons who consider women to no longer be able to participate in sports competitions in the American territory.
