The legal team representing American gymnast Jordan Chiles has filed a new appeal with the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland about the ruling that resulted in her being stripped of an Olympic bronze medal. The petition includes additional video evidence that the Chiles’ lawyers claim supports their client’s argument.
In its most recent brief, Chiles’ attorneys ask the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland to reopen the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) proceedings so that important evidence that was not previously considered can now be considered. According to Chiles’ lawyers, a documentary crew has audio and video records that support Chiles’ claims.
Chiles’ attorneys stated: “The evidence in question – footage from a documentary crew that was recording the women’s gymnastics floor finals – proves that CAS’ prior decision rested on a critical factual error that was compounded by the fact that CAS allowed Chiles less than a day to prepare for her hearing.”
They added: “CAS stripped Chiles’s bronze medal based on its conclusion that Chiles’ coach was four seconds late in making a verbal inquiry to correct Chiles’s score, but the new evidence clearly shows that the inquiry was made on time.”
Additionally, USA Gymnastics (USAG) submitted a brief to reopen the bronze medal CAS award. The USAG claimed to have video evidence that coach Cecile Landi promptly made the inquiry about Chiles’ score within the one-minute deadline as required by FIG regulations.
USAG declared: “The audiovisual evidence which CAS refused to consider clearly proves Jordan’s bronze-medal finish in Paris was correct… With today’s filing, we are simply asking that the CAS arbitration be decided based on a true and accurate understanding of facts. As Jordan has publicly stated, the case at this point is about her peace and justice, and the right of all athletes to be treated fairly. We all continue to pursue justice for Jordan.”
Chiles lost her first Olympic medal as an individual after the Romanian gymnastics team contested the decision to change her floor exercise final score to CAS.
Source: CNN