Fencers Sue USA Fencing Over Inclusion Policies
Margherita Guzzi Vincenti, along with fellow fencers Emma Griffin and Patricia Hughes, has initiated a class action lawsuit against USA Fencing. This comes in light of an alleged incident during the 2025 North American Cup in Kansas City, Missouri, back in January.
The plaintiffs claim that USA Fencing knowingly allowed biological males to participate in women’s events while advertising them as women-only competitions, even those involving athletes under 18. The lawsuit presents concerns about the organization’s youth and cadet policies, which allowed self-identification without any verification. This might have led to biological males younger than 16 entering women’s competitions.
In their complaint, the fencers contend that USA Fencing did not adequately inform participants about whether transgender or non-binary athletes would be competing, which hinders female athletes’ ability to make informed decisions. It’s also claimed that the organization failed to enforce its own past regulations stipulating that men could only compete in women’s categories after undergoing a year of testosterone suppression treatment. There appears to have been no effective system in place to monitor compliance with these rules, enabling biological males to compete freely.
In a statement, USA Fencing acknowledged the lawsuit filed in Missouri and expressed strong disagreement with the claims, stating their intention to address the matter legally without further comments.
Vincenti, who represented the U.S. at the 2024 Paris Olympics, said her motivation for joining the lawsuit is to uphold the integrity of fencing. “Fencing has been my life since childhood,” she noted. “I expected that women’s competitions would be strictly for women, which ensures equality for girls dedicating themselves to the sport.”
Hughes, with 20 years of experience, shared her views, expressing concern over maintaining equity in women’s fencing. She emphasized that the sport must progress fairly for future generations of female athletes.
Griffin, recognized for her NCAA achievements, insists young athletes deserve transparency and clarity from governing bodies. “We commit years to training and travel extensively. We deserve to know the rules clearly,” she stated, highlighting the need for transparency regarding the nature of women’s competitions.
The lawsuit also asserts that allowing biological males to compete within women’s categories violates Title IX, as USA Fencing is classified as an educational institution under this law. The suit seeks to enforce Title IX protections, pointing out that USA Fencing had previously identified itself as an educational service in its Paycheck Protection Program loan applications during the pandemic and received federal funding.
Represented by Mahadavi, Bacon, Halfhill & Young PLLC, and Dillon Law Group, the plaintiffs assert their case is focused on achieving fairness and restoring faith in women’s sports. “Our clients aren’t asking for special rights; they just want the integrity that has been promised for women’s sports,” stated Karyn Swigert, a lawyer from Dillon Law Group.
Charles Wang, from Mahadavi Bacon, echoed the sentiment, arguing that the participation of biological males in women’s competitions undermines over a century of female participation in the sport.
Another defendant in the case is Damian Lehfeldt, former president of the USA Fencing Board, who recently chose not to seek re-election, citing lawsuits and personal threats. His departure follows controversy concerning the disqualification of fencer Stephanie Turner, who had protested against a transgender athlete.
Lehfeldt was also subpoenaed by the federal government to discuss policies related to transgender athletes. Following his testimony, changes were made to USA Fencing’s participation policy in July, leading to a more stringent framework for female competitors, purportedly in compliance with new athlete safety guidelines.
