USA Fencing has partnered with Jumio, a provider of AI-powered identity intelligence anchored in biometric authentication, to automate age and nationality verification for its members through an official ID check. This collaboration aims to streamline a crucial process that affects thousands of athletes each season, from local event registrants to international competitors, enhancing both efficiency and competitive integrity.
The partnership integrates secure, automated technology into USA Fencing’s membership experience, replacing previous manual review processes. This investment is designed to provide a faster and more reliable verification system, reinforcing fair competition within the sport.
Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing, stated, “We’re always looking for ways to make our members’ experience smoother without compromising on accuracy or security. Jumio’s technology lets us do both. Automated verification means less waiting, fewer headaches and more confidence that eligibility is handled right the first time.”While members will not experience changes to their registration process, Jumio’s technology will operate behind the scenes. This system, already utilized by organizations globally for verifying government-issued IDs, will ensure faster and more consistent verification compared to traditional manual methods.
Olympic medalist Nick Itkin OLY, who has extensive experience with international competition requirements, offered his personal endorsement, remarking, “At the elite level, every detail matters — including how smoothly the process runs before you even get to the strip. Anything that removes friction and builds trust for athletes is a step in the right direction.”For athletes, parents, and coaches, the partnership is expected to deliver practical benefits, including faster turnaround times for registration confirmation, stronger integrity through reliable age and nationality verification, and an overall improved experience without requiring members to alter their current process.
Bala Kumar, Jumio president and interim CEO, commented, “Jumio is proud to support USA Fencing’s commitment to competitive integrity. This partnership truly reflects a shared commitment to supporting athletes through technology that works, streamlining and automating registration while providing the robust security essential for fair play at every level of competition.”Jumio helps organizations establish and maintain trust with customers online through its AI-powered identity intelligence platform. This platform uses biometric authentication, automation, and data-driven insights for tasks ranging from account opening to ongoing monitoring. The company leverages automated technologies, including biometric screening, AI/machine learning, liveness detection, and no-code orchestration, to combat fraud and financial crime, accelerate customer onboarding, and ensure compliance with regulations such as KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering). Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Jumio has processed over 1 billion transactions across more than 200 countries and territories.
USA Fencing, founded in 1891 and recognized by the U.
S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, serves as the National Governing Body for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of fencing in the United States. Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the organization supports athletes, coaches, and fans at all levels, from beginners to Olympians and Paralympians, while promoting the values of integrity, respect, and sportsmanship.
