Exclusive: The protests of female swordsman Stephanie Turner against Redmond Sullivan will be the last memory of the strip for a while.
The 31-year-old Maryland native has left the sport after receiving 12 months of probation from US Fencing for his recent refusal to Fence Sullivan at the Cherry Blossom Open on March 30th.
Because Sullivan is a trans athlete, Turner kneels on the camera and rejects the fence. Turner then dealt black cards and escorted them. Her kneeling footage attracted so much attention that it prompted a federal investigation into US fencing.
For sports coverage on foxnews.com, click here
USA Fencing confirmed to Fox News Digital that Turner is on probation for the next 12 months after receiving the black card for confiscation. She can still compete in events on probation, but she has chosen not to.
“I'm going to take a break from fencing for a while on the US circuit. That's a bit confusing for me… It disrupts my training, it disrupts my interactions when I go out in public, and when I'm asked Fox News Digital when I was asked about her expectations when she took a life, I'd definitely disrupt my competition because I don't compete in America.”
Instead, Turner will focus on her new mission in the movement to ban trans athletes from women's sports.
“As long as it takes to solve this, I'll be in the public eye,” she said.
Who is Stephanie Turner? A female swordsman kneeled to protest the trance enemy and ignite global recognition
Her recent interactions with friends have been difficult, and she says she's now getting “dirty looks” from them, and some don't even see her at all. Turner previously told Fox News Digital that she didn't know that some of her friends were in the “LGBT” community and believed that biologically male trans athletes shouldn't compete in women's sports.
“I know some of the negative comments my friends had. I'm keeping in mind that I give them plenty of space, but in the future they will eventually get there given this policy and the belief that this ideology is unsustainable,” Turner said.
But one of Turner's biggest concerns hasn't come to fruition. After the kneeling footage was first released, she previously told Fox News Digital that she was worried about losing her job.
That's not happening.
Instead, Turner's kneeling raises questions about the safety of other individuals' work after widespread backlash against US fencing and potential government sanctions.
President Donald Trump's administration has partnered with the U.S. Department of Justice and Education to begin an investigation into the situation being conducted by the newly formed federal government's Title IX investigation team.
“The nation saw female competitors bravely kneeling and confiscated an essentially unfair fencing match after discovering that they were male,” Education spokesperson Julie Hartman told Fox News Digital. “The Trump administration's Department of Education and Department of Justice's Title IX Special Investigation Team will not allow federal fund recipients to deny equal opportunity protection for women under the law.”
USA Fencing tells Fox News Digital it is willing to cooperate in the investigation.
USA Fencing defends trans inclusive policy amid massive backlash after Stephanie Turner protests
Turner aims to put federal pressure on the organization while she is not competing.
On Tuesday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green announced a hearing that addresses the gender eligibility policy for USA Fencing and an incident involving Turner and Redmond. Turner says she will be present to testify against USA Fencing.
“I don't want the opposite,” Turner said.
“I hope that by touching on this issue they are desperately trying to hide, I will encourage them to change the direction of policies that allow men in women's sports. I don't want to see anyone who can't be punished beyond ensuring women's exclusiveness in women's sports.”
Additionally, Turner plans to do what others are asked to attract more public attention and put pressure on politicians, sports agencies, or others fighting to keep trans athletes in women's sports.
That even means making new friends with female sports rights activists, including Riley Gaines.
Turner will appear on Outkick's “Gaines for Girls” podcast this week.
This episode features Turner against the notion that men have no physical advantages in fencing, and she is open to women who have directly influenced their current political beliefs.
As a former registered Democrat, Turner says that the incident that first began to turn her political views into “new Republican conservatives” saw her have to face biologically male transswimming thomas at the 2022 NCAA Women's Swimming Championships.
It was not just that singular issue, but the incident that pushed Turner to the other side of the political spectrum, but also asked her questions to the Democrats' platform on all the other important issues.
“I worried about politicians who were deliberately lying to promote policies they knew would hurt women and girls. From there, I turned my attention to the media that tend to be more conservative, and I think they have a better (now) advantage with their policies on economics, social issues, foreign policy and borders,” Turner said.
Click here to get the Fox News app
Now Turner takes on a central role in the causes she's seen passionately from afar, before joining the conservative media herself before jumping down the past month.
“I've been excited about the future for the first time in women's sports over the years,” Turner said in praise of the movement. “I think it's speeding up and we might see a resolution this year.”
Meanwhile, US fencing could face continued scrutiny from public and federal arbitrators in the coming months of Turner's viral stunts. But so far, the organization has defended its policy and its decision to take Turner on probation.
“Stefannie Turner's black cards were issued in accordance with the same policies and procedures that apply to all black cards in the US Fencing Authorization Event. By our rules, the black cards will be on a 12-month probation period.
“This will not affect Turner's membership status. She is eligible to compete in future tournaments. Regardless of the circumstances leading to it, all black cards will be treated consistently in line with established USA Fencing guidelines.”
Follow Fox News Digital's Sports Coverage on X and subscribe to Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
