USA Fencing Adopts a Sport Integrity Policy to Protect Fair Competition
Published
USA Fencing''s Board of Directors adopted a Sport Integrity Policy that took effect on Feb. 14, 2026. The policy sets out clear rules against betting on fencing, manipulating competition results, and misusing non-public information, and it tells every member exactly where to report a concern. Below is a plain-language summary for saber fencers, parents, and coaches, taken only from USA Fencing''s official announcement.
USA Fencing''s Board of Directors adopted a Sport Integrity Policy that took effect on Feb. 14, 2026. The policy sets out clear rules against betting on fencing, manipulating competition results, and misusing non-public information, and it tells every member exactly where to report a concern. Below is a plain-language summary for saber fencers, parents, and coaches, taken only from USA Fencing''s official announcement.
Why the policy exists
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee requires each national governing body to maintain a qualifying sport integrity policy. The USOPC approved USA Fencing''s proposal on Jan. 23, 2026, and the Board formally adopted it on Feb. 14, 2026.
The policy is written to be consistent with the International Olympic Committee''s Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions, as well as the applicable International Paralympic Committee codes. In other words, fencing in the United States is now aligned with the same integrity standards used across the Olympic and Paralympic movement.
Who the policy covers
The policy applies broadly to members and participants, including:
- Athletes at every level
- Coaches and support personnel
- Officials and referees
- Employees of USA Fencing
- Board members and members of committees and task forces
- Independent contractors who have access to competition-related information
If you compete at a sanctioned event, coach at one, referee at one, or help run one, the policy applies to you.
The four core prohibitions
1. No betting on USA Fencing sanctioned events. This covers direct and indirect betting, any book or platform, betting through an intermediary, and any form of payment. It applies from local competitions all the way up through Olympic and Paralympic events.
2. No competition manipulation. Prohibited manipulation includes influencing results, scores, margins, statistics, conduct, in-competition incidents, or the decisions of officials.
3. No sharing non-public information. Inside information such as injuries, selection decisions, strategy, or training details may not be shared without a legitimate need if that information could be used for betting purposes.
Reporting, cooperation, and retaliation
Members have a duty to promptly report known or suspected violations to USA Fencing and/or the USOPC. Failing to report is itself a violation of the policy. Members also have a duty to cooperate with investigations, and failure to cooperate may bring sanctions.
4. No directing others to violate the policy, and no accepting benefits tied to betting, inside information, or manipulation.
USA Fencing lists several reporting channels in its announcement:
- General Counsel: j.saxon@usafencing.org
- Member Safety & Organizational Compliance Coordinator: m.boland@usafencing.org
- The reporting form on the USA Fencing website
- USOPC Integrity Portal: usopc.ethicspoint.com or 877-404-9935
- International Olympic Committee: integrity@olympic.org
- Athlete Ombuds: ombudsman@usathlete.org or usathlete.org
USA Fencing applies zero tolerance for retaliation against anyone who reports in good faith or cooperates with an investigation, consistent with its Whistleblower and Anti-Retaliation Policy.
Annual education requirement
The policy includes annual education, and USA Fencing notes that training may be required in connection with eligibility or accreditation. Coaches and referees in particular should expect integrity education to become a routine part of staying current.
What this means for saber families
For most club fencers nothing changes day to day. The practical takeaways are simple: do not bet on fencing events you are connected to, do not pass along non-public information about selection or injuries, and if something looks wrong on a strip or in a registration list, report it rather than discussing it privately. Parents should know that the reporting channels above are open to them too.
USA Fencing publishes the full policy text on its website. We are summarizing it here rather than reproducing it, so read the official policy for the binding language.
Train saber in Bethesda
Saber Nation trains at 4701 Sangamore Road, Suite LL2, Bethesda, MD 20816. If your fencer is heading toward sanctioned competition for the first time, our coaches walk families through membership, rules, and event expectations. See saber fencing classes in Bethesda, MD or contact the club.
Related reading
Source: USA Fencing, "USA Fencing Adopts Sport Integrity Policy to Protect Fair Competition," Feb. 17, 2026 — official USA Fencing article.
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