Competitive fencer Stephanie Turner opted for disqualification rather than compete against a transgender athlete during the Cherry Blossom Open. She expressed significant concern for her physical safety, noting the physical disparity in combat sports. Turner criticized the governing bodies for permitting such participation, indicating it undermines fairness. Understanding she cannot indefinitely avoid competitions with transgender participants, she voiced frustration with the U.S. Fencing Administration's current rules governing transgender athlete inclusion, worrying about implications for future Olympic qualifications as well.
"When I first started this was unfathomable. I did this for my own physical safety, because this is a combat sport - and men do fence a lot harder than women and I don't want to get hurt."
"It makes me very angry to see that we're going along with somebody else's fantasy. A male athlete theoretically could qualify for the Olympics."
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