Stephanie Turner, fencer: «I'm a woman, he's a man, and this is a women's tournament. And I'm not going to fight this person.«
The fencer Stephanie Turner was disqualified from the regional tournament held in the College Park, Maryland, a United States, after kneeling as a symbol of protest and refuse to fight against the trans athlete Redmond Sullivan.
Just before the fight started and already prepared for it, Turner decided not to confront Sullivan in the group stage match. His refusal to compete ended with his disqualification in accordance with the rules of the International Fencing Federation, which prohibits participants from refusing a duel.
The referee, seeing her reaction, approached the American fencer to see what was happening, and she explained her reasons, prompting the referee to show her the black card that resulted in her expulsion from the tournament.
«Redmond thought I was going to start fighting. So, when I got down on one knee, I looked at the referee and said, 'Sorry, I can't do this. I'm a woman, he's a man, and this is a women's tournament. And I'm not going to fight this person.'«Explained Stephanie Turner In the chain FOX.
No to hate speech
Furthermore, the United States Fencing Federation, whose regulations allow trans athletes to compete in women's events after a year of testosterone suppression with proof of this, stressed that "el hate speech or targeted hate of any kind is not acceptable, either online or in person«.
«We understand that the conversation about equity and inclusion in relation to trans participation in sport is evolving.", adds the note, in which USA Fencing insists that "will always lean towards inclusion«.
The body, which clarified that the disqualification of Turner It only applies to the tournament on March 30, he said.committed to amending the policy as more relevant evidence-based research emerges, or as policy changes come into effect across the wider Olympic and Paralympic movement«.
