Jordan Chiles and Two Romanians Let Down by FIG, CAS Decision Says

An arbitration panel has ruled that Jordan Chiles, along with two Romanian gymnasts, deserves bronze medals. The panel expressed that much of the “heartache” surrounding the situation could have been avoided if there had been a method to verify the timely submission of scoring appeals during the event.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) panel called on the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to implement measures to prevent a recurrence of such issues in the future. Their full decision indicated that, had the panel been able to apply fair principles, bronze medals should have been awarded to Chiles, Ana Barbosu, and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea based on their performances and the pain that the situation has caused them.

The Romania team had formally requested that these medals be awarded to the athletes. However, the CAS panel noted that such determination would necessitate FIG’s consent, which was not forthcoming.

The panel acknowledged the disappointment that this ruling brings to the involved gymnasts, highlighting their integrity and good faith throughout the process. Meanwhile, USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee expressed their strong disagreement with the decision, citing significant delays in communication regarding the case. Notices were erroneously sent to incorrect email addresses, delaying critical updates to Chiles and other U.S. officials.

Chiles initially ranked fifth in the floor final on August 5, scoring 13.666, which placed her behind both Barbosu and Maneca-Voinea. Their scores, 13.7, positioned them ahead, with Barbosu ahead due to a better execution score. However, in a twist, Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, successfully appealed her difficulty score, securing an additional 0.100 that elevated her to third.

This led to Romania filing an appeal with CAS, arguing that Chiles’ appeal was submitted beyond the time limit. Since Chiles was the last competitor in the floor exercise, her verbal appeal had to be communicated within a minute of her score being displayed, followed by a formal written inquiry.

During a hearing on August 10, the chair of the FIG’s women’s technical committee acknowledged that there was no means to confirm whether Chiles’ verbal appeal was timely. The official timing system used at the Olympics reported the relevant data, but it was not connected to FIG’s system nor provided to the appeal panel.

The panel pointed out that no one could identify to whom the verbal appeal had been directed. It was mentioned that the recipient was not a FIG employee but someone affiliated with the Paris event organizers.

The CAS’s decision leaves several important questions unresolved. For instance, when did the countdown on Chiles’ appeal properly begin? This is crucial because nearly five seconds elapsed from when Chiles’ aggregated score was displayed and when the distinct difficulty and execution scores were shown. This delay could have informed her coaches about the need to file an inquiry.

It remained unclear if Chiles and her coaching staff had access to any scores before they were presented on the large screen. USA Gymnastics stated they had submitted new video evidence indicating Landi made the verbal inquiry 47 seconds after Chiles’ score was shown, but CAS quickly refuted the evidence, maintaining the ruling could not be reassessed.

Additional questions surround how verbal inquiries are acknowledged. Is it simply a matter of pressing a button, or does it necessitate detailed information that prolongs the process? Clarification is also needed regarding administrative errors such as the incorrect email addresses for USA Gymnastics and USOPC officials and why the IOC insisted upon resolving the matter before the conclusion of the Paris Games.

In light of this ruling, USA Gymnastics and the USOPC announced their intention to further pursue justice for Chiles by appealing to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, Switzerland’s highest court.

The fight for transparency and fairness in this matter continues, as both organizations commit to ensuring that Chiles’ concerns are addressed thoroughly.

Source: USA TODAY