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EXCLUSIVE: A legal battle has erupted within USA Fencing, as two members of the board of directors have filed a lawsuit against the other six members. They allege that chair Damien Lehfeldt made misleading statements during a congressional hearing on May 7 regarding the participation of transgender athletes.
The lawsuit seeks to remove Lehfeldt from his position as chair. The plaintiffs, Andrey Geva and Abdel Salem, claim that Lehfeldt’s remarks could jeopardize the organization’s standing as a national governing body.
Geva, a former U.S. National Coach, represented the U.S. Women’s Épée Team at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics before being elected to the board in 2024. Salem, a former competitor for Egypt in épée events at the 1984 Summer Olympics, has served as the head fencing coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy and was honored as the U.S. Olympic Committee Coach of the Year in 1996.
The lawsuit emanates from allegations that Lehfeldt announced Geva’s resignation from the board at a meeting on June 7, which Geva disputes. These claims were further fueled by the contentious Doge hearing held earlier in May.
The background for the congressional hearing was a significant protest involving women’s fencer Stephanie Turner. She knelt to express discontent with the inclusion of transgender athletes during a match and faced disciplinary actions from USA Fencing. Lehfeldt was the sole representative to testify for the organization at the hearing.
The legal claim asserts that Lehfeldt’s testimony at the hearing included “false and misleading claims,” which jeopardize the entity’s status as a national governing body. The legal document warns that such statements could lead Congress to consider decertifying USA Fencing, which might endanger Team USA’s chances in the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games.
The lawsuit emphasizes the significant emotional and financial toll Lehfeldt’s statements have had on the organization. Geva specifically states that Lehfeldt’s misleading remarks have alienated a vast majority of the fencing community, which is essential to USA Fencing’s revenue stream.
In an attempt to participate in the hearing, Geva alleges he faced threats aiming to prevent him from expressing his opinion. Prior to the hearing, he submitted a letter to Senator Ted Cruz, articulating concerns regarding the advantages biological males might have in fencing competitions against women. This communication was referenced during the congressional session by Subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
During the hearing, Greene quoted Geva’s letter, indicating that the balance in women’s competitions might be at risk due to the inclusion of transgender athletes. Following this event, Geva received messages from fellow board members criticizing him for his forthright personal views. Consequently, two board members proposed a special meeting to discuss disciplinary actions against Geva.
USA Fencing acknowledged receipt of the lawsuit in a statement. In their response to Fox News Digital, they highlighted their commitment to transparency and integrity within the organization. They characterized the lawsuit as a misrepresentation and pledged to defend against it vigorously. USA Fencing asserted that while litigation is ongoing, their focus remains on advancing the sport and supporting all members.
The incident with Turner, which occurred on April 2, has attracted widespread media scrutiny and criticism. Following Lehfeldt’s testimony at the Doge hearing, the backlash against him intensified, particularly due to his prior inflammatory social media posts. These posts were referenced during the hearing, raising questions about his suitability as chair. In one instance, he controversially admitted to agreeing to put female fencers at a competitive disadvantage.
Throughout the hearing, Lehfeldt expressed regret for his unfortunate responses and acknowledged that his answers lacked necessary nuance. His testimony included questionable admissions, such as discussing a fictitious email from a supposed concerned parent, which he later dismissed as poor humor.
During the proceedings, Lehfeldt was confronted by Representative Tim Burchett, who inquired whether he would allow his daughter to compete against a biological male. Lehfeldt responded affirmatively, provided that the competitor complied with established hormonal criteria.
In a moment of confrontation, Representative Nancy Mace challenged Lehfeldt’s position on gender eligibility policy, labeling him unqualified to represent women’s rights effectively. She even requested that he apologize to Turner for the punishment she faced after her protest, to which Lehfeldt declined.
In the wake of the inquiry, Turner openly expressed her intent to advocate for changes in USA Fencing’s leadership, saying she would call for resignations due to damaging public statements made by board members. “I would like to see some people resign for the comments they’ve made, particularly those aimed at humiliating concerned women and mothers,” Turner stated.
Following this tumultuous period, two members of the USA Fencing board have joined Turner’s appeal for accountability. The board convened on June 7 to revise policies that previously prioritized venues in states with LGBTQ-friendly regulations for competitions. These policies faced severe backlash after Turner’s protest.
While USA Fencing insists on maintaining operational transparency, they have provided little explanation regarding the motivations for the policy changes. A spokesperson reiterated that discussing individual board members’ motivations would not be appropriate.
The controversy surrounding Lehfeldt’s comments and the internal dissent within USA Fencing raises critical questions about the organization’s future direction and governance. Stakeholders across the fencing community are now watching closely as this case unfolds in court.
