USA Gymnastics officials say an arbitration panel will not reconsider a decision asking gymnast Jordan Chiles to return the bronze medal she received in the floor exercise at the Paris Olympics.
USA Gymnastics says it will continue its efforts to help Chile retain its medal.
“The Court of Arbitration for Sport notified USA Gymnastics on Monday that its rules do not allow for an arbitration award to be reconsidered even when new conclusive evidence is presented,” USA Gymnastics said in a statement. “We are deeply disappointed by the notification and will continue to pursue all possible avenues and appeal processes, including the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure a fair score, ranking and medal for Jordan.”
CAS overturned an appeal filed at the plenary session by Chiles' coach that catapulted her into third place, arguing that the appeal came four seconds after the one-minute time limit for scoring consultations.
USA Gymnastics questioned the timing, saying Sunday that the agency submitted video evidence to CAS showing Team USA coach Cecile Landi first appealed 13 seconds before the deadline.
The dispute over such minute details sets off what could be a months- or years-long legal battle over gymnastics scores.
The International Gymnastics Federation said on Saturday night that it would respect the tribunal's decision and elevate Romania's Ana Barbosu to third place. The International Olympic Committee confirmed the decision on Sunday and announced it would reallocate the medal.
CAS ruled on Saturday that Landi's request for 0.1 points to be added to Chiles' score came outside the one-minute time limit. The CAS ad hoc committee wrote that Landi's request came one minute and four seconds after Chiles' opening score was posted.
The IOC said it will be in touch with the United States Olympic Committee (USOPC) regarding the return of Chile's bronze and will work with the Romanian Olympic Committee to discuss a reallocation ceremony in Barbosu's honor. Brazil's Rebeca Andrade won gold and the United States' Simone Biles was the silver medalist.
Any appeal could go to Switzerland's highest court, the Swiss Tribunal, or to the European Court of Human Rights.
On Monday night, rapper Flavor Flav — who has been a prominent supporter of 2024 Olympians including discus thrower Veronica Fraley — posted on social media platform X that he had made a dazzling bronze medal for Chile as a possible replacement as the U.S. battles “the powers that be.” The replacement is in the form of a watch, which the rapper has worn for decades, dating back to his days with the group Public Enemy.
“Thank you. It means a lot,” according to a response posted on the account X of Gina Charles, the gymnast's mother. “She's not on social media right now as you can imagine. I'll share this with her.”
