U.S. Gymnast Jordan Chiles Still Holds Original Bronze as USOPC Plans to Appeal
In a highly controversial decision that has sent ripples across the international gymnastics community, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Romania can proceed with awarding gymnast Ana Barbosu a bronze medal following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This decision paves the way for a medal ceremony set for Friday, despite ongoing disputes and potential appeals.
CAS Ruling and Its Immediate Impact
The IOC’s announcement comes after the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) adjusted the rankings based on CAS’s final award. According to the IOC’s statement, this ruling is binding and enforceable, giving Barbosu the right to receive the bronze medal, even as a potential challenge in the Swiss Federal Supreme Court looms.
“While a challenge in the Swiss Federal Supreme Court is still possible, the CAS award is immediately enforceable and Ms. Barbosu is entitled to receive the bronze medal,” the IOC stated.
The American Side of the Dispute
However, the situation remains complex and fraught with tension. American gymnast Jordan Chiles, who was originally awarded the bronze in the floor exercise at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is still in possession of the medal. Sources familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Chiles remains in the United States with the medal, and there are no immediate plans for her to return it.
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has indicated its intention to appeal the CAS decision, citing “significant procedural errors.” According to the USOPC, these errors include critical communications sent to incorrect email addresses, resulting in a delayed response and inadequate time to prepare their case.
“From August 6-9, CAS sent crucial communications to erroneous email addresses at USOPC and USAG (USA Gymnastics), an error not corrected until August 9—three days after filing, two days past the deadline to submit objections, and less than 24 hours before the hearing. This deprived us of adequate time to respond meaningfully or gather necessary evidence. We informed CAS of our objections immediately,” the USOPC stated.
The Evidence and the Ongoing Dispute
Further complicating matters, U.S. officials have produced time-stamped video evidence showing that their appeal of Chiles’ score was filed within the one-minute deadline, not four seconds late as initially presented at the CAS hearing. Despite this evidence, CAS has refused to reopen the case, maintaining that the award to Barbosu should stand.
The USOPC, in its statement, expressed frustration over what they view as administrative errors by FIG and mishandlings by CAS, stating, “Our objections have since been validated by new evidence indicating administrative errors by FIG and mishandlings by CAS, which would have been impossible to raise at the time of the rushed hearing. In short, we were denied a meaningful opportunity to be heard.”
Romania Moves Forward Despite Controversy
In the face of this controversy, Romanian officials have decided to move forward with the medal ceremony for Barbosu, a stark contrast to the slow-moving resolution seen in other high-profile cases, such as the Kamila Valieva doping scandal. The decision to hold the ceremony has sparked further debate, especially after a proposed compromise to award both Chiles and Barbosu bronze medals was rejected by FIG.
The rapid progression of this case, compared to the 2½ years it took for U.S. and Japanese figure skating teams to receive their medals after the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, highlights the unusual urgency surrounding this decision.
As the drama unfolds, the global gymnastics community watches closely, with potential legal battles and appeals likely to continue. The situation underscores the complexities and challenges that come with high-stakes international competition, where every fraction of a second and every procedural detail can have far-reaching consequences.