Jordan Chiles controversy twist as official who voted against U.S. star has 'Romanian ties'

The decision to force Jordan Chiles to return her Olympic bronze medal appears to have taken an even more controversial turn , with a key figure involved in the ruling appearing to have ties to Romania.

The head of a tribunal ruled on the complaint successfully lodged by Romania, to give the nation's performer Ana Barbosu the bronze, has represented the country in cases in the past, The New York Times has reported

Chiles had finished in third place during the floor exercise final, with Simone Biles finishing in second and Brazilian Rebeca Andrade winning the gold medal. But almost a week later, Chiles was asked to hand in her bronze medal .

She had initially finished in fifth with 13.666 points and kept out of the medal places by the Romania duo of Ana Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, who finished at 13.700 - before the successful appeal at the time gave her the bronze.

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READ MORE: USA Gymnastics releases statement after losing Jordan Chiles Olympic medal appeal

Cecile Canqueteau-Landi, USA Gymnastics coach, had quickly appealed her gymnast's score, claiming that Chiles was not properly rewarded for a split leap. Subsequently, judges accepted this and awarded her the bronze.

Almost a week later though, this had been taken back with Chiles now being pushed back to fifth place - handing Romanian Barbosu the bronze - the nation in which the head of the decision-makers is now said to have ties to.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) had previously ruled against USA Gymnastics' appeal to correct an officiating error and add 0.1 to Chiles' score. It had been stated that the inquiry was lodged well after the one-minute deadline, and therefore refusing to consider any evidence from the American's case.

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The U.S. team has stated that is has video evidence of the appeal had clearly come before the one-minute deadline, which is continued to be refused to be looked at by the tribunal - believed to be headed by the individual that has ties to Romania.

The USA Gymnast team has released a statement, which reads: "USA Gymnastics was notified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday that their rules do not allow for an arbitral award to be reconsidered even when conclusive new evidence is presented.

"We are deeply disappointed by the notification and will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure the just scoring, placement, and medal award for Jordan."