Published 15:15 IST, August 12th 2024

Will CAS’ Ruling To Strip US Gymnast Jordan Chiles Of Bronze Medal Impact Vinesh Phogat's Case?

CAS' verdict in the Jordan Chiles case has sparked widespread debate about its impact on the long awaited Vinesh Phogat verdict.

Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
Jordan Chiles and Vinesh Phogat
Jordan Chiles and Vinesh Phogat | Image: Associated Press

Paris Olympics 2024: The Summer Games returned to Paris after a long haul of 100 years. After London (1908, 1948 and 2012), Paris became only the second country to host the Olympics three times (1900, 1924, and 2024). A sporting spectacle that went on for two weeks, the Paris Games will go down as one of the most controversial editions of the Olympics ever.

The Indian contingent couldn't better their medal's tally from the Tokyo Olympics. Team India could win only six medals and might end up having their seventh medal if the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decides to hand Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat her joint silver. Phogat's last minute disqualification has been spoken about a lot, in India and overseas. The CAS was also looking into American gymnast Jordan Chiles' case and has now given the verdict against her. Chiles has now been stripped of her Olympic Bronze.

Things Go Downhill For Chiles After CAS' Verdict

While the entire world waits in anticipation to the witness the climax of Vinesh Phogat's appeal. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), on Sunday delivered a verdict against Jordan Chiles whose case is being compared to Vinesh Phogat. Chiles had edged past Romania's Ana Barbosu to win the Olympic bronze. The Romanian athlete's team refused to accept the verdict and appealed to the CAS that Barbosu should've won the bronze medal.

ALSO READ | All you need to know about Vinesh Phogat's saga ahead of CAS' Verdict on her disqualification

Barbosu's team also flagged that Chiles shouldn't have been awarded the score of 13.766 in the first place which made her win the bronze medal. Initially, Chiles had a score of 13.666, while Barbosu scored 13.700. The CAS has now asked Biles to return her bronze, based on technicality and has decided to hand it over to Ana Barbosu.

Chiles' verdict To Impact Phogat's Olympic Silver Dream?

There has been a widespread debate about Vinesh's silver medal dreams after the CAS asked Chiles to return her Olympic medal. The verdict of Phogat's plea will be out on August 13, 2024. Vinesh has appealed for a joint silver medal after she was disqualified from the finals of the 50Kg Women's Freestyle Wrestling. But there is a stark difference between Vinesh's and Chiles' case. Senior counsels Harish Salve and Vidushpat Singhania have been chosen to present Phogat's case.

The International Gymnastics Federation had violated a rule in Chiles' case as found by the CAS, but as far as Phogat's plea goes, all the regulations were properly followed by the international federation and hence it is unlikely that Chiles' case will have any effect on Phogat's verdict.

ALSO READ | IOC Prez Thomas Bach Speaks Out On Vinesh Phogat's Disqualification From Paris Olympics

The Vinesh Phogat Disqualification Saga

Vinesh Phogat was on the cusp of creating history for India by becoming the only Indian female wrestler to have qualified for the finals on the Olympic stage. The young India grappler was gunning for gold and was assured of a silver medal, but things were destined to go downhill. On the morning of her final bout, Phogat weighed 100 grams more than the stipulated 50kg mark and was disqualified.

This left the entire nation in shock. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to intervene and he gave Phogat all the support to fight for her case and atleast claim the silver that she deserved. The case is now in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which will decide if Vinesh is to be awarded her silver.

Updated 19:16 IST, August 12th 2024