Head of Sports Panel that Gave Chiles’ Bronze to Romania is Legal Counsel

Concerns have arisen regarding a potential conflict of interest involving the head of the panel that stripped American gymnast Jordan Chiles of her Olympic bronze medal. This controversial decision ultimately awarded the medal to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu instead.

The situation unfolded during the women’s floor exercise final on August 5 when Chiles executed her routine. Following her performance, Team USA’s head coach filed a protest, suggesting that Chiles’ score was inaccurate. A review ensued, resulting in an increased score that placed Chiles in third place.

However, the outcome was later reconsidered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which is an independent body dedicated to resolving international sports disputes. CAS determined that the appeal submitted by the coach was late, which led to Chiles being moved down to fifth place. Consequently, Barbosu was elevated to third, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) upheld this ruling, requiring Chiles to return her bronze medal.

Now, the ruling from CAS faces scrutiny, particularly because it has come to light that one member of the arbitration panel, Hamid Gharavi, has longstanding ties to the Romanian government. This revelation has prompted questions about impartiality in the decision-making process.

According to an article from the International Institute for Conflict Resolution and Prevention, Gharavi serves as legal counsel for Romania in various disputes before the World Bank’s International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes. His biography on the CAS website highlights his extensive experience representing Romania.

The nonprofit organization has raised concerns regarding Gharavi’s position on the arbitration panel, suggesting it could constitute a conflict of interest. They expressed doubt about whether an arbitrator, representing a nation in international matters, could impartially adjudicate a case that directly involves an athlete from that country.

“Is it realistic to expect such an arbitrator to decide against the interests of that country or that country’s gymnast, who is represented by the Federation of Romanian Gymnasts?” the nonprofit poses.

Katherine Simpson, one of the authors of the article and an international arbitrator, expressed her confusion to the New York Times about why Gharavi was assigned to the case. She emphasized the need for transparency in such visible matters, suggesting that his involvement could undermine confidence in the decision.

In response to inquiries, Gharavi declined to comment on his role as an arbitrator for this or any other case, deferring questions to CAS. The Independent has since reached out to CAS for additional comments.

Following the loss of her medal, Chiles, 23, shared her disappointment on social media, posting multiple broken heart emojis on her Instagram story, indicating her intention to take a break from social platforms for the sake of her mental health.

The situation did not end there. The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee promptly announced its intention to file an appeal regarding the CAS ruling. The committee stated, “We firmly believe that Jordan rightfully earned the bronze medal, and there were critical errors in both the initial scoring by the International Gymnastics Federation and the subsequent CAS appeal process that need to be addressed.”