U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles has launched an appeal after a controversial ruling stripped her of an Olympic bronze medal, her legal team confirmed Monday. The decision, which transferred her first-ever individual Olympic medal to Romanian gymnast Ana Bǎrbosu, has ignited a wave of criticism from Chiles’ supporters, who claim the process was fundamentally flawed.
The dispute began when the Romanian gymnastics team successfully contested a score revision in Chiles’ floor exercise, prompting the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to review the matter.l Ultimately, CAS sided with Romania, revoking Chiles’ bronze and awarding it to Bǎrbosu.
Now, Chiles is taking her fight to the next level by appealing CAS’s ruling to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, which oversees CAS.
A Fight for Fairness
Chiles’ legal team argues that the CAS process violated her right to a fair hearing.
“From start to finish, the procedures leading to the CAS panel’s decision were fundamentally unfair, and it is no surprise that they resulted in an unjust decision,” Jordan’s attorneys said.
Central to the appeal is the claim that CAS refused to consider crucial video evidence, which Chiles’ team says clearly shows her inquiry was submitted on time. They also argue that the gymnast was not informed about a potential conflict of interest involving the president of the CAS panel.
Maurice M. Suh, counsel for Chiles, further emphasized the gravity of the situation: “Jordan Chiles’ appeals present the international community with an easy legal question—will everyone stand by while an Olympic athlete who has done only the right thing is stripped of her medal because of fundamental unfairness in an ad-hoc arbitration process? The answer to that question should be no.”
Support Grows for Chiles’ Case
As Chiles continues her pursuit of justice, she has gained significant support from key organizations. The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) voiced their determination to see Chiles recognized for her achievements.
“Due to the egregious errors and oversight by CAS in handling the case and overlooking clear evidence of Jordan’s rightful Bronze win, we are determined to ensure she receives the recognition she deserves. Our commitment to truth in this matter remains steadfast,” the USOPC told CNN.
While USA Gymnastics (USAG) is not directly involved in the appeal, the organization stands behind Chiles, offering full backing to her legal efforts. “USAG is closely coordinating with Jordan and her legal team and will make supportive filings with the court in the continued pursuit of justice for Jordan,” the governing body confirmed.
Seeking Justice
Chiles’ attorneys underscored the importance of holding sports institutions to high standards. “Chiles believes in competing fairly and with integrity and holding these organizations to the standards and rules that were established to ensure fairness,” they said in a statement.
CAS has so far declined to comment on the case, stating that they have not yet been notified of the appeal by the Swiss Federal Tribunal.
As the appeal progresses, many will be watching closely to see if the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland overturns CAS’s controversial ruling, potentially restoring Chiles’ bronze medal and setting a precedent for fairness in international sports arbitration.
