A female fencer, Stephanie Turner, was disqualified from a match after refusing to compete against transgender athlete Redmond Sullivan.
The video of Turner kneeling instead of competing went viral after the Independent Council on Women’s Sports shared it, quickly gaining over a million views on X.
USA Fencing confirmed Turner’s disqualification, stating that her refusal to compete violated International Fencing Federation rules, which prohibit fencers from refusing an opponent for any reason.
USA Fencing clarified that Turner’s disqualification was not "related to any personal statement" but to her refusal to compete.
The incident highlights the ongoing debate about transgender athletes in sports, with public opinion divided on whether transgender women should compete in women’s events or not.
A 2023 Gallup poll found that 69% of Americans believe transgender athletes should play on teams matching their sex assigned at birth.
