Overview

• Stephanie Turner, a female fencer, was disqualified after kneeling in protest of competing against transgender athlete Redmond Sullivan at the Cherry Blossom Open on March 30, 2025.
• The newly formed Title IX investigations team, under the Department of Education and Department of Justice, is examining whether USA Fencing's policies violated federal protections for women in sports.
• USA Fencing's 2023 transgender inclusion policy allows transgender athletes to compete in women's categories after meeting specific hormone treatment requirements.
• The University of Maryland, as the event's host, and Wagner College, which previously rostered Sullivan, have been cited by federal officials as bearing responsibility for potential Title IX violations.
• USA Fencing has pledged full cooperation with the investigation, defending its policy as inclusive while acknowledging the need for ongoing dialogue and potential policy adjustments.