Judge Dismisses Olympian's Title IX Suit Over 2025 USA Fencing Event

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 26

Missouri Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr. dismissed without prejudice a Title IX lawsuit brought by Olympian Margherita Guzzi Vincenti and two other fencers against USA Fencing over the 2025 North American Cup in Kansas City.
The ruling said the plaintiffs did not plausibly allege they were excluded from competition, denied benefits, treated adversely because of sex, or even that they actually faced transgender athletes.
USA Fencing welcomed the order, while the suit had accused the governing body of allowing biological males into women's and girls' events that were advertised as female-only, including under-18 competitions.
The case lands after USA Fencing drew national attention in April 2025 when fencer Stephanie Turner knelt in protest of a trans opponent, and after the body changed its policy in July to limit women's events to females under updated USOPC rules.

A judge tossed the lawsuit, yet the rules tightened. What does this contradiction mean for the future of women's sports?

Beyond courtrooms and policies, what is the ultimate cost to the athletes caught in the middle of this debate?