USA Fencing’s Identity Verification Overhaul: A Lesson in Streamlining Security for Amateur Sports Organizations
As the governing body for fencing in the United States, USA Fencing has a critical responsibility: ensuring that tens of thousands of athletes compete fairly and safely. To meet this challenge, the organization recently overhauled its identity verification process, partnering with AI-powered identity verification technology vendor Jumio to automate age and nationality verification for members.
At first glance, it may seem surprising that an organization focused on amateur sports would need to worry about something as technical as identity verification. However, as Brad Suchorski, director of membership, service, and growth at USA Fencing explains, “identity is critical to get right because the integrity of the competition is at stake.” When athletes compete under incorrect age categories or nationalities, it can have a ripple effect throughout the entire competition, compromising fairness and safety.
Behind this effort lies a more mundane but equally important concern: operational efficiency. In the past, USA Fencing relied on manual document review, which not only delayed processing times but also put customer service personnel under undue pressure during busy competitive periods. “If somebody previously submitted a document at 5:01 on a Friday, it wouldn’t have been actioned until Monday at 8 in the morning,” Suchorski recalls. With the growing membership base, this inefficiency was becoming increasingly problematic.
Enter Jumio’s AI-powered identity verification platform, which streamlines the process by automating age and nationality verification for members. When a member uploads documents through USA Fencing’s existing user portal, Jumio’s system detects document boundaries, examines security features, and looks for signs of manipulation – all in real-time. The platform also evaluates documents for varying risk levels, flagging suspicious or uncertain cases for further human review.
By automating age verification capabilities during the 2024-2025 season, USA Fencing was able to verify competitive members once and retain records for all future competitions. This not only improved operational efficiency but also allowed the organization to extend verification requirements to all competitive members, not just those participating in regional and national events.
The success of this effort serves as a valuable lesson for amateur sports organizations struggling with manual identity verification processes: there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to streamlining security. By embracing AI-powered technology and automating age and nationality verification, USA Fencing has demonstrated that even the most complex tasks can be simplified and made more efficient – all while maintaining the integrity of its competitions.
As you consider your own organization’s identity verification processes, take a cue from USA Fencing: don’t underestimate the importance of operational efficiency in safeguarding fair play. While it may seem like a minor detail, investing in AI-powered technology could make all the difference in ensuring that athletes compete safely and fairly – and that your organization runs smoothly behind the scenes.
Source: Dark Reading — 2026-07-31