The International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has published its reasoning in the dispute over the Olympic bronze medal in gymnastics and defended itself against criticism from the USA. Jordan Chiles therefore no longer has a chance of making the podium in floor exercise, which she celebrated in Paris with her teammate Simone Biles. The CAS decided that the protest by the US Gymnastics Association came too late and that the bronze medal should therefore go to Romanian Ana Barbosu. “The panel would like to point out that it is its job to judge based on the law and evidence, and both are crystal clear in this case,” it said.
During the floor exercise on August 5, the US team objected to Chiles’ score. After examining the video footage, the jury decided to recognize one element and increase the difficulty rating. Chiles climbed to third place. The decision was not made until after the rankings were announced. At that time, Romanian Ana Barbosu had already celebrated her third place in the hall with the country’s flag over her shoulder.
The Romanian federation then lodged an appeal with the CAS on the grounds that the US team had requested the correction after one minute and four seconds instead of within one minute after the score was announced. The CAS agreed and declared the upward correction to be ineffective.
Most recently, the US Gymnastics Association submitted new video material, according to which the first protest was communicated after 47 seconds and a second after 55 seconds. According to the association, the CAS is no longer allowed to deal with evidence submitted subsequently. The US association had kept open the possibility of bringing the case before the Swiss Federal Court.