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Bombshell 'conflict of interest' claim emerges in Jordan Chiles Ana Barbosu Olympic medal dispute after USA star was stripped of her Paris bronze
The head of the panel that ruled Jordan Chiles should lose her Olympic bronze to a Romanian athlete has represented Romania's government in legal disputes for years, it has emerged.
Ana Barbosu was reinstated into third at Chiles' expense in Saturday's seismic ruling over the floor final at the Paris Games. Chiles herself had been elevated into third -over Barbosu - when her coaches appealed her score during the event. Barbosu was celebrating her bronze at the time and was left in tears while Chiles celebrated.
Romania appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) where Hamid G. Gharavi was the chair of the panel, despite his links to the Romanian government.
It flags a potentially significant conflict of interest claim in an already delicate situation. The New York Times says panel members must complete a conflict of interest form before reviewing any case and that Gharavi had disclosed his work with the Romanian government. The Times also says Gharavi refused to comment when approached by them.
Chiles reacted by posting four broken-hearted emojis on Instagram and said she was taking a break from social media while her sister said racism was behind the decision.
The Jordan Chiles Olympic bronze dispute has taken a twist over 'conflict of interest' claims
Ana Barbosu is scheduled to receive the bronze taken from Chiles in Romania this week
USA gymnastics said it was 'devastated' and has vowed to fight the ruling by appealing to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland. It is rare, however, for CAS decisions to be overturned.
Barbosu, who has reached out to Chiles on social media, is set to receive her bronze in Bucharest on Friday. A ceremony has been scheduled for the 20-year-old, with the IOC present.
It is not known if she will receive the exact same medal as Chiles and if the USA star has been forced to return hers.
Chiles won the bronze in women's floor exercise in Paris when her coach submitted an inquiry to challenge the judges' initial score and her score was corrected from 13.666 to 13.766.
Chiles moved into third place, passing Romanians Barbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea. It represented Chiles' only individual medal of her Olympic career. She won a gold medal as part of the team event in Paris, and a silver medal in the same event in Tokyo.
Romania took its case to CAS, saying that the United States' inquiry was not made within the one-minute window stated in the rules. Romania argued that the Americans missed that time limit by four seconds.
After the ruling on Saturday went against Chiles, the U.S. later countered it had video evidence that coach Cecile Landi made the appeal 47 seconds after Chiles' initial score was posted, well within the time limit.
Barbosu responded to the score change on the day itself by dropping her Romanian flag in horror before bringing her hands to her face and walking off in tears
Jordan Chiles posted two statements to social media about her losing her bronze medal
Barbosu said she hopes she is on the podium alongside Chiles at the next Olympics
USA Gymnastics have been approached for comment on the latest developments regarding Gharavi.
Earlier on Tuesday, before the Gharavi-Romania links emerged, the organization said across their social media platforms: 'As we continue to celebrate the successes of Team USA Gymnasts on social media, know that we are still working full-time to pursue justice for Jordan.'
Barbosu, meanwhile, sympathized with Chiles in a social media statement at the weekend which read: '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.'
Simone Biles (left) sent her teammate Chiles a public message of support at the weekend
Chiles has said she is taking a break from social media in light of the ruling against her
Upon landing back in Romania after the event's conclusion, Barbosu spoke out about temporarily falling to fourth place.
'I want everyone to be fair and not throw stones at athletes of any nationality. We as athletes only want to perform as well as we can and be rewarded for our results.
'The problem was on the judging side - how they calculated and decided the scores,' she said.
Chiles was also sent a message of support by her USA teammate Simone Biles, who said on Saturday on Instagram: 'Sending you so much love Jordan. Keep your chin up Olympic champ! We love you!'