USOPC to Follow Trump’s Executive Order on Sports Inclusion
The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has stated its intention to adhere to President Donald Trump’s executive order regarding “excluding men from women’s sports.” This information was detailed on the USOPC Transgender Eligibility Policy page, which referenced the USOPC Athlete Safety Policy effective from July 21, 2025.
The current policy lacks specific guidelines for including transgender athletes in women’s events. However, it does cite the executive order directly. The USOPC policy assures that it will collaborate with various stakeholders to maintain a safe and fair competitive environment for women, aligned with Executive Order 14201.
In light of recent scrutiny, USA Fencing was among the first American Olympic organizations to update its gender eligibility policy after facing backlash over allowing biological men to compete in women’s categories.
Last week, USA Fencing revised its policy to include stringent requirements for participating in women’s competitions, stating that only “female gender” athletes may compete, provided they meet all entry criteria. This update is set to take effect next month.
The previous policy indicated that biological men could compete in women’s events only after undergoing 12 months of testosterone suppression treatment. Later, USA Fencing announced plans to modify its policy to ensure women’s categories would be exclusively for female sex athletes. Yet, the new policy does not use the term “exclusively” as was in the April proposal.
When approached for clarification on whether this new policy blocks all biological men from competing in women’s events, USA Fencing did not provide a clear answer. They also declined to elaborate on enforcement measures, such as mandatory sex testing or the acceptance of an amended birth certificate as proof of birth.
In an official statement, USA Fencing mentioned that their changes have been prompted by the new guidelines from USOPC. They stated, “On July 18, 2025, USOPC released new athlete safety guidelines that necessitate compliance from all national control agencies, based on a federal executive order issued earlier this year. USA Fencing will implement an updated transgender and non-binary participation policy that reflects these new guidelines.”
They emphasized a commitment to respect, fairness, and athlete satisfaction with this update, which is in line with national standards.
Controversy Following Stephanie Turner’s Protest
USA Fencing has been under increased scrutiny regarding its gender eligibility policies since a widely publicized incident involving female fencer Stephanie Turner. She protested against a transgender opponent during a competition in Maryland, leading to her disqualification and a black card for refusing to compete. This sparked considerable backlash against USA Fencing.
The ensuing dispute was even addressed in a federal hearing on May 7, where Turner testified about her experience. The hearing, called “Unfair Play: Protecting Women from Men’s Sports,” included discussions with US Fencing Chair Damian Lefeld.
In early June, the US Fencing board voted to amend its previous policy, emphasizing LGBTQ-friendly laws at competition venues and addressing concerns about the national anthem’s performance at events, both of which have drawn criticism following Turner’s protest.
Subsequently, two board members filed lawsuits against several others, claiming that Lefeld provided false testimonies during the May hearing. The plaintiffs, Andrei Geba and Abdel Salem, have long-standing ties to the sport, either as coaches or competitors.
In response to the lawsuits, USA Fencing issued a statement reaffirming its integrity and transparency to members, athletes, and coaches. They characterized the lawsuits as misrepresentations of the organization and committed to defending themselves in court.
While the legal proceedings continue, USA Fencing remains focused on the advancement of fencing and the values of the Olympic and Paralympic movements.
