Jordan Chiles could still KEEP her Paris Olympic bronze medal as USA Gymnastics issue defiant statement

USA Gymnastics is refusing to accept defeat in the fight for Jordan Chiles to keep her Olympic bronze medal - despite being hit with another setback on Monday.

The organization said in a statement on Monday night that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will not consider overturning Saturday's announcement that Romania's Ana Barbosu should return to third place in the standings at Chiles' expense.

Chiles initially finished fifth in the floor final but USA appealed the decision and her score was increased enough for her to rise into third place instead of Barbosu - until CAS intervened on Saturday.

Now, upon announcing the latest twist, USA Gymnastics vowed to continue fighting for Chiles. It said: 'USA Gymnastics was notified by the Court of Arbitration for Sport 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 the Swiss Federal Tribunal, to ensure that just scoring, placement and medal award for Jordan.' 

USA Gymnastics is fighting for Jordan Chiles (right) to keep hold of her bronze medal 

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While the Swiss Federal Tribunal avenue keeps faint hopes alive for Chiles, it would still mark a major shift if she were to keep hold of the bronze after CAS' latest decision over the matter.

Barbosu, who was left in tears when she saw her position downgraded in Paris after initially celebrating bronze, sent Chiles and her fellow Romanian - who was also downgraded from fourth to fifth - a dignified message over social media on Sunday.

She wrote: 'Sabrina [Maneca-Voinea], Jordan, my thoughts are with you. I know what you are feeling, because I've been through the same. But I know you'll come back stronger. I hope from deep of my heart that at the next Olympics, all three of us will share [the] same podium. That is my true dream!

'This situation would not have existed if the persons in charge had respected the regulation. We, athletes are not to be blamed, and the hate directed to us is painful. 

'I wanted to end this edition of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in the spirit of Olympism, the true value of the world.'

Chiles herself has kept largely silent on the matter. 

She posted three broken-heart emojis on Saturday as the news surfaced before saying she was taking a break from social.