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In an unrelated but equally contentious event, fencer Stephanie Turner made headlines by refusing to compete against her transgender opponent, Redmond Sullivan, at the Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland. Turner, prior to the tournament, expressed her decision to forfeit the match as a statement against competing against what she termed a "man," emphasizing the disparity in opportunities for female athletes.
The decision resulted in her disqualification, as USA Fencing indicated her actions breached competition rules, which mandate participation against eligible opponents. Turner has taken her stance further by supporting federal decisions to reduce funding for states allowing trans athletes in women's sports.