Exclusive: Two members of the U.S. Fencing Board have filed a lawsuit against six other members. They allege that Chairman Damien Lefeld made false statements during a Congressional hearing on transgender athletes held by the Government Efficiency (DOGE) Subcommittee on May 7.
The legal action, aimed at removing Lefeld as the USA Fencing Chair, was initiated by plaintiffs Andrei Geba and Abdel Salem.
Geba, a former national coach who led the U.S. Women’s Epee team at both the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, was elected to the board in 2024. In contrast, Abdel competed for Egypt in the 1984 Olympics. They are now seeking legal recourse following Lefeld’s incorrect announcement regarding Geba’s resignation during a meeting and several allegations made during the May 7 hearing.
The May hearing was prompted by an incident in which female fencer Stephanie Turner knelt in protest and faced repercussions from USA Fencing. Lefeld the only representative who testified on behalf of the organization.
The lawsuit claims that Lefeld made “falsely misleading claims” during the hearing, potentially jeopardizing the organization’s status as a national governing body (NGB).
The lawsuit states, “Accused Lefeld’s disapproval attitude in a malicious and dishonest statement at the May 7th Congress hearing; [2025] Congress urged them to consider accusing USFA as an NGB. Therefore, it could put Team USA qualifications at risk at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.”
It continues, “His lies alienate thousands of members of the fencing community who provided more than 90% of USFA’s revenue.”
Geba asserts he attempted to speak at the hearing but felt threatened and “stopped.” He eventually sent a letter to Senator Ted Cruz, expressing his views on the impact of biological men in fencing, which was mentioned during the DOGE hearing by Subcommittee Chair Marjorie Taylor Greene.
According to the lawsuit, Geba received messages from fellow board members condemning his opinions, and two members suggested creating a special board to discipline him.
USA Fencing issued a statement acknowledging the lawsuit, claiming it misrepresents the organization and offered its full support for its members while focusing on the advancement of fencing.
The organization has faced immense public criticism since footage of Turner’s protest surfaced. Lefeldt’s testimony exacerbated the situation, particularly after he shared controversial Instagram posts that were later called out during the hearing. In one instance, when asked if he thought putting a female fencer at a disadvantage was acceptable, he replied bluntly, “Yes.”
Later in the hearing, he regretted the comment and acknowledged it required a “more subtle” response. He also admitted to fabricating an email from a fictional mother opposing him, which he later deemed a failed attempt at humor.
During the hearing, a senator challenged him, asking if his daughter would compete against a biological male. Lefeld expressed confidence in his organization’s safety protocols while highlighting compliance with their policies.
Some representatives suggested that Lefeld did not align with the organization’s gender eligibility policies and urged him to apologize to Turner for the penalties she faced.
Following the ongoing scrutiny, two board members have joined Geba’s cause, and the board voted to amend its policies regarding LGBTQ-inclusive guidelines at sports events. However, the motivation behind these changes remains unclear.
USA Fencing declined to speculate on the personal motivations behind board members’ actions.
