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Jordan Chiles' bronze medal ruling could 'forever tarnish the Olympics', warns US congressman Steve Cohen
The controversy surrounding Jordan Chiles' bronze medal has reached Capitol Hill, with politicians warning the affair could 'forever tarnish the Olympic Games'.
Congressman Steve Cohen has written to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, 'strongly urging them to reconsider' after the Team USA gymnast was asked to return her bronze medal from the floor exercise.
Chiles initially finished fifth in Paris before USA appealed the decision and her score was increased enough to take third place instead of Romania's Ana Barbosu.
But then, in a bombshell ruling, CAS ruled the judging panel were wrong to allow the change to Chiles' score because the appeal came outside the one-minute window allowed by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).
It meant the 23-year-old was again relegated to fifth, with USA Gymnastics vowing to fight for her to keep the medal. Chiles announced she was removing herself from social media 'for my mental health'.
Team USA star Jordan Chiles lost her Olympic bronze medal from the floor exercis
Congressman Stephen Cohen has written to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the ruling
Now Cohen, a Democratic congressman from Tennessee, has thrown his weight behind Chiles' cause, writing to CAS to express his 'great concern' about the decision.
He argued that the ruling punishes Chiles 'by pointing to a procedural issue in which she had no direct involvement' and 'rather than rectify the error of the judges, it blames the competitor.'
'It is my understanding that two issues are being considered: the miscalculation of Ms. Chiles' score and when her inquiry was raised,' he said.
'Even if it were raised four seconds late, the overarching issue would remain: Ms. Chiles incorrect initial score.
'Minimizing this underlying mistake while strictly enforcing a technical rule sends the wrong message to all those who participate in sports: the rules are for protecting the power of the judges, not for creating a fair playing field for the athletes. I strongly urge you to reconsider.
Cohen claimed the decision went against the Olympic spirit, adding: 'Every two years, the Games are an opportunity for all of us to transcend our common disputes and inspire us to treat one another with dignity every person deserves.
Chiles initially finished fifth before she moved ahead of Romania's Ana Barbosu on appeal
'The Olympic spirit is about hard work, resilience, ambition, and fair play. Your Court's recent decision cuts against those motiving virtues. Rather than reward Ms. Chiles for her performance, it diminishes her accomplishments by pointing to a procedural issue in which she had no direct involvement.
'Rather than rectify the error of the judges, it blames the competitor. I do not see how, if one would balance the equities impartially, one would arrive at that conclusion.
'While the Olympic Games should not be political, they teach lessons well beyond particular sports. The world is looking to this Court for a lesson: should we choose form or substance?
'Should technical compliance outweigh performance? Is justice about strict enforcement or fairness? Again, I urge you to reconsider this misguided move to strip Ms. Chiles of her medal, which, if left to stand, may forever tarnish the Olympic Games.'
Barbosu responded to the score change by dropping her Romanian flag in horror and crying