USA Fencing has officially updated its gender‑eligibility rules, effective August 1, 2025, to comply with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s executive order issued July 21 requiring women’s sports to be “exclusively for athletes of the female sex.” Under the new policy, only those recognized at birth as female may compete in the women’s division with no exceptions for transgender athletes.
This change marks a dramatic reversal of USA Fencing’s previous 2023 policy that allowed transgender competitors to enter the women’s category after a year of testosterone suppression. The hard line follows national backlash sparked by fencer Stephanie Turner’s viral protest at the Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland. Turner refused to duel a transgender opponent, kneeling in protest and being disqualified, unleashing fierce debate and prompting congressional scrutiny.
USA Fencing now cites new USOPC guidance enforcing President Trump’s executive order on women’s sports. The policy’s precise enforcement mechanisms remain unclear—no official statement on sex verification, hormone levels, or proof of birth sex has been released.
Former USA Training Team coach Andrey Geva has joined the legal battle, suing board chair Damien Lehfeldt over the organization’s handling of transgender eligibility rules. Meanwhile, Turner, now on probation for 12 months, has announced she will refrain from U.S. competitions while continuing her advocacy.
Supporters praise USA Fencing’s decision as a victory for fairness, women’s safety, and integrity in sport, aligning with a growing conservative push to safeguard female athletic categories under Trump-era directives.
This policy shift is part of a broader national trend: the USOPC’s website now reflects Trump’s executive order on transgender participation. Still, it stops short of drafting its own detailed rules, placing enforcement responsibility on national federations. With LA 2028 on the horizon, USA Fencing’s move may set a precedent for how conservative-leaning sports bodies navigate federal mandates and public pressure.
