Tennis legend Martina Navratilova 'fuming' after female fencer punished for refusing to take on trans athlete

Women's fencer Stephanie Turner took a knee in protest when paired with a transgender opponent at a major competition at the University of Maryland, and was then immediately disqualified. (Credit: ICONS)

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova slammed USA Fencing after a female fencer took a knee when she refused to compete against a transgender athlete at an event over the weekend.

Stephanie Turner made the decision not to compete against trans athlete Redmond Sullivan at the Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland. Instead, she decided to take a knee. The referee dealt Turner a black card, which represents the most severe penalty in the sport. She told Fox News Digital she was then escorted out of the event and was made to sign a document acknowledging the penalty.

The moment went viral on social media on Wednesday, and Navratilova, who has become a champion of fairness in women’s sports, weighed in.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Women's fencer Stephanie Turner kneels in protest in front of transgender athlete Redmond Sullivan. (Courtesy of ICONS)

"This is what happens when female athletes protest! Anyone here still thinks this is fair??? I am fuming… and shame on @USAFencing, shame on you for doing this. How dare you throw women under the gender bulls--- bus!!!" she wrote on X.

Former NCAA fencer Juliana Peceli also weighed in.

"As a retired D1 @NCAA fencer, I was forced to compete against men who claimed to be women. Female athletes dedicate our lives to our sport, only to have men take our spots, our titles, and our future," she wrote on X.

"Kudos to the women who refuse to accept this injustice."

USA Fencing responded to the incident in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"USA Fencing enacted our current