Transgender fencer sues after barred from University of Maryland event
Dinah Yukich says USA Fencing’s sex-based rule kept her out of a March event at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her Maryland complaint names the university, the USOPC and several employees.
Dinah Yukich, a 43-year-old fencer from Howard County, filed a civil rights complaint May 12 accusing USA Fencing of barring her from the Cherry Blossom Open at the University of Maryland, College Park because she was not assigned female at birth. The event was held in March 2026 and was sanctioned by USA Fencing.
The filing with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights names USA Fencing, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, the University of Maryland and several employees as respondents. It alleges denial of public accommodations based on sex and gender identity, along with aiding and abetting a discriminatory policy. Attorneys Susie Cirilli of Spector Gadon Rosen Vinci in New York City and Jessie Weber of Brown, Goldstein & Levy in Baltimore are handling the case.
USA Fencing updated its eligibility policy July 18, 2025, effective Aug. 1, 2025. Under that rule, women’s events are open to athletes who are female at birth and have not started female-to-male hormone treatment. Men’s events are open to all other eligible athletes, including transgender women. The change followed guidance from the USOPC after a federal executive order and complied with athlete-eligibility guidance from the national Olympic body.
USA Fencing spokesperson Bryan Wendell declined to comment on the litigation, but said the organization remained committed to treating members with respect, dignity and care. The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the University of Maryland did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In April 2025, USA Fencing said it was preparing a revised eligibility policy that would require athletes in sanctioned events to compete according to biological sex if oversight bodies or federal law required the change. It also said mixed-gender competitions would remain sanctioned.
Yukich filed a separate lawsuit in New Jersey in October 2025 after being barred from a women’s competition in New York. Court records show that case remained active in July 2026.
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