Court proposes stripping US athletes of medals at 2024 Olympics

On August 5, Chiles competed in the final of the women's floor exercise, scoring 13.666 points, placing her in fifth place. However, after discovering that the judge had incorrectly scored the 23-year-old athlete's difficulty, the US gymnastics team appealed, allowing Chiles to be awarded 0.1 points, bringing her score to 13.766. The new score helped her move up to third place, pushing two Romanian athletes, Barbosu and Sabrina Voinea, both with 13.700 points, down to fourth and fifth place.

At the awards ceremony, Chiles received the bronze medal, while compatriot Simone Biles received the silver with 14.133 points. The gold medal in this event went to Brazilian athlete Rebeca Andrade with 14.166 points.

Romania was not satisfied, because they believed that the US's decision to appeal was slower than the regulations. According to the rules, each team can only appeal within one minute of the athlete finishing the competition. The US appealed just four seconds past that time limit.

Following the incident, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced that he would not attend the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics, saying that his team had been treated unfairly. Voinea was deducted 0.1 points by the referee for stepping out of the ring, but slow-motion footage showed that she was still on the ring. Romania lodged a complaint about Voinea, but the referees did not accept it.

The Romanian Olympic Committee decided to file a complaint with CAS over the U.S.'s time-barred appeal in Chiles' case, and the referee's illegal deduction of points for Voinea. After five days, on August 10, CAS issued a ruling, stating that the U.S. was wrong because it filed an appeal beyond the time limit.

"The US appeal decision was submitted after 1 minute and 4 seconds, exceeding the 1 minute time limit," CAS said in a statement. "Therefore, Chiles' original score of 13.666 must be upheld."

In Voinea's case, CAS dismissed Romania's appeal, meaning the athlete's score of 13.700 remained the same, not increased to 13.800. Voinea's case was not a clear error by the referee, like Chiles.

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) also announced an adjustment to the order of athletes in this event, following the decision of CAS. Barbosu will receive the bronze medal, Voinea will remain in fourth place, and Chiles will be pushed down to fifth.

The official decision is still pending the International Olympic Committee (IOC). CAS was established in 1984 by the IOC to adjudicate sports-related cases. The 2024 Olympics website reported the CAS and FIG rulings. It is unclear whether Chiles will have to return Barbosu's bronze medal or if the Romanian athlete will receive a new bronze medal.

USA Gymnastics said it was disappointed with the CAS decision. Biles took to social media to say that Chiles was still a champion in her eyes. Chiles' sister Jazmin said her sister did not cheat or dope, but lost points because of a referee's mistake, and that the decision to appeal was made just four seconds too late. American gymnast Suni Lee called for the referee to be punished for his wrong score.

Chiles has not commented on the incident, only announcing that he has locked his social media account due to "mental health" issues.

Voinea closed her room door and cried after learning of the CAS ruling, according to Romanian newspaper Sporturilor.

Chiles has won a gold and a silver medal at the Olympics, both in the all-around team event, while Voinea, 17, has yet to win a medal. If the CAS ruling is upheld and enforced by the IOC, Barbosu, 18, will receive her first bronze medal at the Games.