Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into USA Fencing after it disqualified a female fencer for refusing to compete against a transgender athlete.
“USA Fencing is on the wrong side of history and potentially the wrong side of the law due to violations of Texas consumer protection laws,” Paxton said in a statement. “USA Fencing’s policies are not only potentially illegal, but also deeply insulting to the young women like Stephanie Turner who have sacrificed so much and dedicated countless hours to compete and succeed in competitions. I will fight to stop these unfair policies, and I will never back down from defending the integrity of women’s sports.”
Paxton’s investigation seeks to uncover information relating to USA Fencing engaging in “false, deceptive, and misleading acts and practices,” his office said.
Fencer Stephanie Turner shared with Fox News after the incident that she explained to the directors that she could not participate “because this person is a man & I am a woman & this is a women’s tournament, and I refuse to fence on principle.”
Turner explained that her opponent was “a little bit confused.” She told her competitor that she was choosing not to fence the athlete because “I am a woman and you are a man. I have much love and respect for you, but I will not compete against you.”
“In the case of Stephanie Turner, her disqualification, which applies to this tournament only, was not related to any personal statement but was merely the direct result of her decision to decline to fence an eligible opponent, which the FIE rules clearly prohibit,” USA Fencing said. “USA Fencing is obligated to follow the letter of those rules and ensure that participants respect the standards set at the international level.”
