Romanian Gymnastics Federation Offers Resolution to Jordan Chiles Controversy

United States gymnast Jordan Chiles has been asked to return her bronze medal following a controversial decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The organization ruled that a score inquiry from USA Gymnastics was made outside of the allowed one-minute window.

With her last-second score change now void, Chiles' 13.766 Floor Exercise score drops to 13.666 — pushing her off the podium and down into fifth place.

This decision moves Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu into bronze medal position. Her fellow countrywoman, Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, moves into fourth. Romanian officials requested a score bump for Maneca-Voinea after what they felt was an undue penalty, but that appeal was denied.

The Romanian Gymnastics Federation has proposed a solution to this complicated controversy. The organization believes all three gymnasts affected should receive bronze medals.

The FRG says it never agreed with the decision to strip Chiles of her medal.

The initiative to award bronze medals to all three athletes, Jordan Chiles, Ana-Maria Bărbosu, and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, was proposed by the lawyers of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation, with the prior approval of the Federation.

The leadership of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation (FRG), through its representatives, took all necessary steps to reach this consensus. We emphasize that certain requests were made by the American side to achieve this goal, and our side consistently complied with these requests, a fact that was appreciated by the American representative.

This Olympic controversy has led to feverish discourse on the subject. Unfortunately, the anger surrounding this topic has resulted in online attacks against each of the gymnasts involved.

We hereby appeal to the entire gymnastics community, both within the country and abroad, to put an STOP to the attacks against gymnasts Jordan Chiles, Ana-Maria Bărbosu, and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, and especially against Nadia Comăneci, whose support has always been in favour of all three athletes /three medals.

FRG never agreed on taking away a medal.

USA Gymnastics submitted new video evidence that shows coach Cecile Landi issued the inquiry within the allowed timeframe. The CAS declined to accept any new evidence.

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