The fight continues for USA Gymnastics after an appeal was turned down by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over a contested bronze medal held by American gymnast Jordan Chiles.
The medal was originally awarded to Chiles after Team USA contested the judges’ scoring during an event. However, the CAS later overruled the scoring adjustment after an official challenge from Romania, resulting in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) demanding that the medal be returned.
Medal Controversy
During a gymnastics routine at the Olympic Games, Jordan Chiles was initially awarded a score that put her in fifth place.
However, USA Gymnastics Coach Cecile Landi filed an inquiry, which the judges accepted and bumped up Chiles’ score to put her in third place to earn the bronze medal.
Historic Podium
The placing of Chiles into third was seen as historic by some, because it was the first time three Black women held the top three spots.
However, this score by Chiles was later officially challenged by the Romanian Gymnastics Federation who filed for a review of the score before the Court of Arbitration.
Siding Against Chiles
In the following days, the appeal was deliberated until August 10 when a ruling was handed down that supported Team Romania’s challenge against Chiles.
The ruling determined that Team USA’s coach exceeded a one-minute time limit to make a verbal inquiry into seeking a score change, making the Chiles’ placing invalid.
Chiles Reacts
In the wake of the decision that ultimately concluded the bronze would be awarded to gymnast Ana Barbosu of Romania, Chiles reacted with four broken heart emojis on her Instagram Story.
“I am taking this time and removing myself from social media for my mental health thank you,” said Chiles.
USA Gymnastics Statement
On August 10, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee issued a joint statement expressing their disappointment in the ruling.
“We are devastated,” the statement said. “The inquiry in the Difficulty Value of Jordan Chiles’ floor exercise routine was filed in good faith and, we believed, in accordance with FIG rules to ensure accurate scoring.”
Seeking Appeal
In the wake of the ruling, Team USA pushed to get the decision reexamined, confident in their case that Chiles had indeed rightfully earned the medal.
Team USA sought to provide new evidence in a letter and wanted to submit video footage that they time-stamped showing the inquiry happened before the contested one-minute deadline.
Reconsideration Denied
However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) quickly replied to the request for the ruling to be reconsidered: by denying the request.
While the IOC has confirmed that court did not have the time-stamped evidence at the time of ruling, the CAS’s refusal to reopen the case means that USA Gymnastics will have to try a different approach.
Deep Disappointment
In an August 12 statement, USA Gymnastics again expressed sadness at their efforts to vindicate Chiles being shut down.
“USA Gymnastics was notified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday that their rules do not allow for an arbitral award to be reconsidered even when conclusive new evidence is presented,” the statement said.
Other Avenues
In their statement, USA Gymnastics said that they would continue to fight for Chiles’ bronze medal, seeking to file an appeal with the Swiss Federal Tribunal.
“We are deeply disappointed by the notification and will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure the just scoring, placement, and medal award for Jordan,” the statement said.
What is the Swiss Federal Tribunal?
The next step of the appeal process will take USA Gymnastics to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, otherwise known as the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland.
However, chances for Chiles don’t look good. In the past, the Swiss Federal Tribunal has restrained itself from intervening in CAS decisions, only stepping in for blatant procedural issues. It’s unclear if Chiles will be allowed to keep her medal during the appeal process or if she will be forced to surrender it before the appeal can be decided.
Question Over Timing
Chiles’ supporters online felt that the quick decision to strip the medal without allowing proper evidence to be examined, even at a later time, was unfair to the athlete.
“All of this smells of corruption. How do they quickly strip a medal within hours but don’t allow the other party to defend themselves? Didn’t even give the Usag a chance to acquire evidence needed and deemed what they had was factual,” said one X user.
