Jordan Chiles Appeals Olympic Bronze Medal Fight to Swiss High Court

The battle surrounding Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Olympics is far from over. On Monday, Chiles’ legal team confirmed that they have submitted a formal appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, calling for the annulment of an earlier ruling made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). That ruling had effectively taken the bronze medal from Chiles and moved her from third place to fifth in the women’s floor exercise final.

Chiles initially earned the bronze after successfully challenging the judges’ scoring on one of her routine’s elements. However, days later, CAS concluded that her challenge was submitted four seconds too late, resulting in her being dropped from the podium. Following this, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) requested the return of her medal, which was then awarded to Anna Barbosu of Romania, who was elevated to third place after CAS’s decision.

“Jordan Chiles’ appeals present the international community with a straightforward legal question: will anyone allow an Olympic athlete, who has done everything right, to be stripped of her medal due to glaring unfairness in an ad-hoc arbitration process?” attorney Maurice Suh stated. He further emphasized that “the Olympics and its arbitration processes should embody fair play.”

Chiles’ attorneys also announced plans to file an additional petition seeking further remedies from the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. They explained that both filings could lead to a retrial of the case before CAS, allowing Chiles the opportunity to prepare a proper defense and present crucial evidence, including video footage that allegedly proves her coach’s inquiry was submitted on time.

Appealing to the Swiss tribunal marks an important and somewhat unusual move. CAS typically serves as the final authority on legal disputes in international sports, meaning its decisions are often considered final. The Swiss tribunal generally only reverses CAS decisions in cases involving evident procedural violations, lack of jurisdiction, or contradictions with Swiss public policy.

According to Chiles’ attorneys, the CAS ruling is “procedurally deficient” for two main reasons: first, they argue that Chiles’ fundamental right to be heard was compromised when CAS opted not to listen to new video evidence obtained post-hearing that demonstrates her inquiry was indeed submitted within the stipulated timeframe. Second, they claim the hearing was biased because Chiles was unaware of a significant conflict of interest involving the president of the arbitration panel, Hamid Gharavi, who had previously represented Romania in various cases.

The law firms representing Chiles indicated that her appeal is supported by a letter from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), which has continually criticized CAS’s management of the situation, particularly regarding the notification timeline. The USOPC and USA Gymnastics (USAG) have stated that they were not made aware of the dispute until three days before the hearing, with notifications sent to incorrect email addresses.

Moreover, both governing bodies expressed disappointment over CAS’s refusal to consider the aforementioned video evidence, which they contend was discovered after the hearing and decisively indicates that Chiles’ scoring inquiry was submitted on time.

“In collaboration with Jordan’s counsel and USA Gymnastics, we are pursuing a coordinated approach, with Jordan’s team managing the initial appeal,” the USOPC asserted. “In light of the glaring mistakes and oversights by CAS, we are committed to ensuring she receives the recognition she deserves.”

The matter at hand revolves around a narrow margin — merely one-tenth of a point separated Chiles from Barbosu in the floor exercise final. Chiles and her coaches believed that she did not receive full credit for her split leap, known as a tour jete full. Her coach, Cecile Landi, filed an inquiry that successfully awarded Chiles an additional 0.10 points, momentarily granting her the bronze medal and displacing Barbosu.

However, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation contested the situation, claiming that the inquiry was submitted beyond the one-minute deadline. CAS sided with the Romanian Federation, prompting the FIG to alter the scoring and ultimately leading to the IOC demanding the return of Chiles’ medal.

Chiles recently spoke about the situation publicly, sharing that she felt heartbroken by the entire ordeal. The International Gymnastics Federation acknowledged during the CAS hearing that it lacked a mechanism to confirm the timely submission of inquiries, which ultimately contributed to Chiles’ penalization.

Despite the challenges, Chiles remains resolute in her fight for justice. “At this rate, it’s not really about the medal,” she stated. “It’s about my peace and my justice.”

Source: USA TODAY