Male Competitors Threaten Fairness: Female Fencer’s Disqualification Highlights Flawed Policies

Sullivan and Turner

On April 2, 2025, Stephanie Turner, a female fencer, was unfairly disqualified from the Cherry Blossom tournament at the University of Maryland. She took a knee to protest fencing Redmond Sullivan, a biological male in the women’s division. USA Fencing booted her out, exposing a broken system. Their weak policies don’t just hurt women like Turner—they fail everyone, including Sullivan, who may be struggling with deeper issues. Let’s unpack why this matters.

The Protest

Stephanie Turner, a 31-year-old from the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia, faced a dilemma. Her opponent, Redmond Sullivan, was born male and competed on Wagner College’s men’s team before transitioning. Now, Sullivan fences in women’s foil. Turner saw his name in her pool the night before and chose to act. During the match, she dropped her mask, took a knee, and refused to compete. Her stand went viral on X, hitting over a million views—people are paying attention.

The Unjust Disqualification

USA Fencing didn’t support Turner; they punished her. Under FIE rule t.113, refusing to fence a “properly entered” opponent means a “black card.” Turner was out. USA Fencing says it’s just following rules, but this stings for women wanting fair play. Sullivan met their policy—one year of testosterone suppression—but that doesn’t erase male physical advantages like strength or reach. Turner’s not the villain here; the rules are.

The Real Issue

USA Fencing’s testosterone suppression rule is a sham. Science proves males retain edges—muscle mass, bone density—long after a year of hormone changes. Martina Navratilova nailed it: women are getting sidelined. Riley Gaines backed Turner, insisting women’s sports should stay female-only. But this isn’t about attacking Sullivan, who might be grappling with real mental health challenges like gender dysphoria. USA Fencing’s policy doesn’t help him or the women—it just muddies the water.

A Broken System

Turner disqualified

This isn’t Sullivan’s fault—it’s USA Fencing’s. Their one-year rule ignores biology and fairness, leaving female athletes at a disadvantage. It also fails Sullivan, pushing him into a space where he’s set up for conflict instead of support. Dr. Linda Harris, a sports physiologist, says, “Suppression doesn’t reset decades of male development.” Parents and fencers agree—armbands and a 10,000-signature petition show the demand for change.

Conclusion

Stephanie Turner’s disqualification is a red flag. She stood for fairness, and USA Fencing punished her. Their flimsy one-year suppression rule doesn’t fix anything—it disadvantages women and leaves Sullivan caught in the crossfire. This isn’t about blame; it’s about a policy that helps no one. Women deserve a fair shot, and Sullivan deserves better support. USA Fencing must scrap this mess and start over.