USA Fencing

Addressing misconduct, including sexual assault and abuse, is of the utmost importance to USA Fencing.

During recent weeks and months, discussion has been ongoing, both within our organization and in communities around the nation, regarding what more can be done to promote a welcome and inclusive environment where sexual abuse, physical and emotional misconduct, bullying, harassment and hazing is not tolerated.

As an organization, we are committed to this.

USA Fencing has worked long and hard to address these issues, internally and in conjunction with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the U.S. Center for SafeSport. We will continue to work with those entities and with our board, SafeSport Resource Team, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Resource Team and membership to continue improving our policies and procedures in these areas.

Since the implementation of SafeSport in August 2013, we have made significant strides and there is still much work to do. We remain dedicated to facilitating safer environments for competition, training, officiating, and other modes of participation. In the coming weeks, USA Fencing will be launching new SafeSport initiatives, including a speaker series as well as exploring increased educational opportunities for all members. This will complement the SafeSport education requirements already in place for all coaches, referees and volunteers.

USA Fencing will continue to work with the U.S. Center for SafeSport, as the organization that is mandated by federal law to have exclusive jurisdiction over all allegations of sexual misconduct and child sexual abuse within Olympic sport in the United States. The Center’s policies and procedures are binding upon USA Fencing and all other National Governing Bodies of Olympic sports.

USA Fencing SafeSport Process Flowchart

All individuals who receive SafeSport sanctions, including suspensions and bans, will continue to be posted at www.usafencing.org/safe-sport as well as www.uscenterforsafesport.org. 

We recommend that all our members and their families review the educational materials available at www.usafencing.org/safe-sport as well as the Center’s SafeSport Code, our supplemental SafeSport Policy and our Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies.

We are aware that fencers, parents, club owners, coaches, volunteers and others in the fencing community may have questions regarding the SafeSport process and have developed an online form that can be completed to submit questions: https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/emf/USAFencing/SafeSport or safesport@usafencing.org. During the next USA Fencing board meeting, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. EDT, a SafeSport update will be presented that will address questions regarding the SafeSport process. Call-in details will be posted in the coming week.

Anyone who has experienced sexual, physical or emotional abuse within our sport is encouraged to report these incidents to the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Adult participants are required by the SafeSport Code to report incidents of child abuse or sexual misconduct to the Center immediately. Reporting can
be made at www.uscenterforsafesport.org or USA Fencing at www.usafencing.org/safe-sport or by contacting safesport@usafencing.org. Reporting party information is kept confidential