PARIS — U.S. gymnast Jordan Chiles must return her bronze medal in the floor exercise, the International Olympic Committee said Sunday, upholding findings that a coach’s protest that got her on the podium shouldn’t have been allowed.
Chiles, 23, had initially finished fifth in the competition on Monday before U.S. coach Cecile Landi successfully lobbied that her athlete’s difficulty score had been under-credited.
Officials on the scene agreed and adjusted Chiles’ score which boosted her above two Romanian athletes, triggering an angry reaction from that delegation.
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Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said he’d refuse to attend the Olympics closing ceremony in protest.
The IOC on Sunday said it would abide by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ruled that Landi’s protest was made 64 seconds after scores were posted. The deadline for such action is one minute.
Romanian Ana Bărbosu, 18, will now be the floor exercise bronze medalist.
Chiles still has a gold from the women’s team all-around. She won silver in Tokyo, also in the team all-around.
“We are devastated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling regarding women’s floor exercise,” according to a statement issued by USA Gymnastics on Saturday night. “The inquiry into the Difficulty Value of Jordan Chiles’ floor exercise routine was filed in good faith and, we believed, in accordance with FIG rules to ensure accurate scoring.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
David K. Li reported from Paris and Sean Nevin reported from London.
