USA Gymnastics says judges will not review decision to strip Jordan Chiles of bronze medal

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USA Gymnastics says judges will not review decision to strip Jordan Chiles of bronze medal

USA Gymnastics officials say a panel of judges will not reconsider its decision to require gymnast Jordan Chiles to return the bronze medal she was awarded in the floor exercise at the Paris Olympics.

USA Gymnastics said it will continue to work to help Chiles retain his medal.

“USA Gymnastics was informed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday that its rules do not allow for a review of an arbitral award even if new conclusive evidence is presented,” USA Gymnastics said in a statement. “We are extremely disappointed by this announcement and will continue to pursue every available avenue and appeal process, including the Swiss Federal Court, to ensure fair scoring, placement and medal awarding for Jordan.”

CAS overturned Chiles’s coach’s on-stage appeal that put her in third place, on the grounds that the appeal was made four seconds after the one-minute time limit set aside for scoring.

USA Gymnastics protested the timing, saying on Sunday that it had submitted video evidence to CAS showing U.S. team coach Cecile Landi made her first appeal 13 seconds before the deadline.

Disputes over such trivial details can lead to months or years of legal battles over gymnastics scores.

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) said on Saturday night that it would respect the court’s decision and elevate Romania’s Ana Barbosu to third place. The International Olympic Committee confirmed the ruling on Sunday, announcing that it would reallocate the medals.

CAS ruled on Saturday that Landi’s request to add 0.1 points to Chiles’ score fell outside the one-minute time frame. The CAS special commission wrote that Landi’s request was made one minute, four seconds after Chiles’ initial score was announced.

The IOC said it would contact the USOPC about returning Chiles’ bronze medal and would work with the Romanian Olympic Committee to discuss a redistribution ceremony honoring Barbosu. Rebeca Andrade of Brazil won the gold medal and Simone Biles of the United States took the silver.

Any appeal can be made to the Swiss Supreme Court, the Swiss Court or the European Court of Human Rights.

Late Monday, rapper Flavor Flav — who is known for supporting 2024 Olympic athletes, including discus thrower Veronica Fraley and the women’s water polo team — posted on the social media platform X that he had created a shiny bronze medal for Chiles as a potential replacement while the United States battles “The Powers That Be.” The replacement is shaped like a watch, which the rapper has worn for decades, dating back to his days in Public Enemy.

“Thank you. Means the world,” according to a reply posted on the X account of Gina Charles, the gymnast’s mother. “She’s not on social media right now as you can imagine. I’ll share this with her.”

According to The Associated Press.

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