American gymnast Jordan Chiles has taken her fight to retain her Olympic bronze medal to Switzerland's highest court.
The 23-year-old has filed an appeal with the Swiss Federal Tribunal, challenging a recent ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that stripped her of the medal won in the women's floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Chiles is receiving strong support from USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) in her legal battle.
The appeal centres on procedural issues with the CAS ruling and seeks to overturn the decision that saw Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu awarded the bronze instead.
The controversy stems from a CAS ruling that deemed Chiles' scoring inquiry was submitted four seconds past the one-minute deadline.
This decision reversed her initial bronze medal win, which she had secured after successfully challenging the judges' score of an element in her routine.
Jordan Chiles has mounted a legal challenge for her bronze medal
PA
The International Olympic Committee subsequently requested Chiles return her medal, awarding it to Barbosu instead.
Chiles' attorneys argue that the CAS ruling was "procedurally deficient" on two key grounds.
"Jordan Chiles' appeals present the international community with an easy legal question − will everyone stand by while an Olympic athlete who has done only the right thing is stripped of her medal because of fundamental unfairness in an ad-hoc arbitration process?" attorney Maurice Suh stated.
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Chiles' legal team argues that her "right to be heard" was violated when CAS refused to consider new video evidence showing her inquiry was submitted on time.
They also claim the CAS hearing was unfair due to an undisclosed conflict of interest involving the arbitration panel president, Hamid Gharavi, who had previously represented Romania in other proceedings.
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The USOPC has criticised CAS's handling of the case, particularly regarding the timeline and notification process.
Both the USOPC and USA Gymnastics say they were informed about the case just 24 hours before the hearing, with early notices sent to incorrect email addresses.
Chiles spoke publicly about the ordeal last week, saying her "heart was broken" by the process. She emphasised that her fight is now about more than just the medal.
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Jordan Chiles was part of a successful gymnast team at the Olympics for the United States including Simone Biles
PA
"At this rate, it's not really about the medal," Chiles said. "It's about my peace and my justice."
USA Gymnastics expressed its full support for Chiles' appeal, stating it will "make supportive filings with the court in the continued pursuit of justice for Jordan".
Jordan Chiles had a bronze medal stripped off her
PA
The USOPC echoed this sentiment, vowing to ensure Chiles "receives the recognition she deserves".
A decision from the Swiss Federal Tribunal is expected in four to six months.
