


A transgender fencer identifying as female captured the 2023 FIE Veteran Fencing World Championship on Sunday from a 14-time champion.
Liz Kocab, a biological male who identifies as female, became the Vet Women's Epee champion in Florida after defeating Finland's Marja-Liisa Someroja, according to a report.
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Sunday's win marks the second time that Kocab has captured first place in the 70+ bracket, and it is the athlete's eighth world title, the report noted.
"I wanted to support USA Fencing," Kocab said. "I really did. Otherwise, I was actually thinking of stepping away. But the fact that it was in America, I thought that was important to support the USA. This is my way of saying thanks to USA Fencing."
Both USA Fencing and Kocab have faced criticism over the latter's ability to compete in competitions for women, but a November 2022 implementation regarding USA Fencing's transgender and nonbinary policy allows transgender athletes to compete.
Athletes can "participate in USA Fencing-sanctioned events in a manner consistent with their gender identity/expression, regardless of the gender associated with the sex they were assigned at birth," according to USA Fencing.
Expanding access to the sport of fencing and establishing a safe and inclusive space for equality are important steps for the sport, the governing body said in a release.
"It is critical that we protect the rights of nonbinary and transgender athletes in fencing," USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews said.
"Even as we plan to conduct more scientific research into the physiological effects of gender transition as they pertain specifically to the sport of fencing, we remain unanimously and steadfastly supportive of transgender athletes having their place in fencing. ... To be clear, even as this issue evolves, our support of transgender athletes will not waver."
Specific requirements exist for national rankings when it comes to transgender competitors, according to the report.
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"Athletes being treated with testosterone suppression medication, for the purposes of USA Fencing-sanctioned competitions may continue to compete in men’s events, but may only compete in women’s events after completing one calendar year (12 months) of testosterone suppression treatment," according to USA Fencing. "Proof of compliant hormone therapy must be provided prior to competition."
Kocab was a collegiate All-American fencer and a member of the men's 1972 national NCAA Fencing Championships team, according to the report.