US fencing team compete at Olympics amid match-fixing investigation

A match-fixing investigation has been cited at the reason for three of US women’s saber fencers losing their opening bouts at Paris 2024 .

Tatiana Nazlymov, whose place at the Olympics was challenged by two other American fencers in a 13-hour arbitration hearing just one month ago, has been connected with allegations of bout manipulation.

In April, USA Fencing suspended two referees, Jacobo Morales and Brandon Romo, who were allegedly conferring during one of Nazlymov’s matches in January.

After winning her bout under controversial circumstances in San Jose, California, the American qualified for the Paris Olympics where, along with her two teammates, she lost in the round of 32 in the individual saber event on Monday.

Nazlymov was outpointed 15-14 by South Korean Choi Sebin, while her teammates, Magda Skarbonkiewicz and Elizabeth Tartakovsky, also failed to progress to the round of 16.

However, while they compete again in their team event on Saturday, the participation of Team USA ’s fencers at this year’s Games is still under investigation.

But despite two fencers providing documents of complaint against her, the arbitration that Nazlymov attended in June, known as Section 9, produced no evidence that she was responsible for any misconduct.

“We respect the right of those Fencers who went through the Section 9 process and are mindful of the emotional strain the process puts on all parties,” USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews told The Associated Press on Sunday.

“While the investigation continues and we anticipate a report after the conclusion of the Olympic Games, both independent panels rendered their decisions and we are now focused on a healthy environment here in Paris.”

Nazlymov, along with men’s saber fencer Mitchell Saron, who lost his round of 16 bout on Saturday, were both put under the microscope.

As things stand, the two fencers remain innocent of any wrongdoing, but USA Fencing has received some backlash for how they have handled the situation.

Following the suspension of the two referees, advocacy group Global Athlete branded USA Fencing’s punishment of Romo and Morales as “weak and futile” in an open letter signed by select members of the US team.

According to Global Athlete, the governing body should have redistributed the Olympic qualification points that were at stake in the bout.

Away from the investigation, though, US fencers have had a successful start to the Olympics, with Lee Kiefer winning gold and Lauren Scruggs securing silver in their respective events on Sunday.