IOC Justifies Decision To Give Medal To Ana Barbosu Despite Jordan Chiles' Appeal

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has clarified why it allowed Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu to receive her 2024 Olympics bronze medal despite the fact that USA Gymnastics is still appealing the ruling that voided Jordan Chiles' win.

Chiles bagged the bronze medal in the floor exercise event of the Paris Olympics. She initially scored 13.666 for fifth place, but it was bumped to 13.766 after her coach, Cecile Landi, challenged her difficulty score and was awarded an extra 0.10 point for the 23-year-old.

The American gymnast climbed to the third spot for a podium finish, surpassing Barbosu and fellow Romanian Sabrina Voinea who both had 13.700. Barbosu was placed higher because of a tie-breaker (higher execution score).

However, this started the controversy, with the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee filing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the result. The CAS then found out that Landi's challenge came four seconds after the one-minute deadline, thereby voiding the additional score given to Chiles.

As a result, the CAS ruled that the initial scores should be restored, with Barbosu finishing third, Voinea fourth and Chiles fifth. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) complied with the ruling, while the IOC followed suit and demanded that Chiles return her bronze medal.

USA Gymnastics appealed the decision to the CAS, but the organization said that it could no longer reopen a case where a final ruling has been made. That said, USA Gymnastics now plans to bring the issue to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, a court that can take appeals on rulings made by tribunals such as the CAS.

Despite the fact that USA Gymnastics is still pursuing action over the issue, Barbosu was awarded a bronze medal on Friday in a ceremony in Bucharest. A new medal was apparently given to her, with Chiles still reportedly holding her own medal.

In explaining the decision to allow Barbosu to receive a medal when Team USA and Chiles' camp continue to appeal, the IOC explained that the CAS ruling is already enforceable amid the current situation.

"The FIG adjusted ranking is based on a final CAS award, which is binding on all the parties," the IOC told Christine Brennan of USA Today.

"While a challenge in the Swiss Federal Supreme Court is still possible, the CAS Award is immediately enforceable and Ms. Barbosu is entitled to receive the bronze medal."

It remains to be seen if USA Gymnastics will be successful in its  appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, but the controversy has certainly gotten more complicated after Ana Barbosu got her medal.

Related: Jordan Chiles Has 'No Plans' Of Returning Olympic Medal Despite Decision