The decision outraged U.S. Olympic and gymnastics officials, and led to a torrent of online abuse against both Chiles and Ana Barbosu, the Romanian athlete who ended up with the bronze.
IOC won’t save FIG’s ass. If FIG award these two/three athletes same ranking then IOC will, otherwise no snowball in hell chance for IOC to set that bad precedent. It’s 200% FIG mess, but FIG’s hand is tied by their rules.
Otherwise there will be even more controversies down the road if the rules are not clear and rigid. They, as well as any category when subjectivity plays an important role, should consider to give each head coach one but only one red flag challenge for the whole event, and use it then loses it. So the governing body can be in a very defensible position: 1) red flag challenge used, some rules such as inquiring time limit no longer apply (to a point) or 2) too bad you used up your red flag challenge for the whole event. Be more selective next time.
IOC won’t save FIG’s ass. If FIG award these two/three athletes same ranking then IOC will, otherwise no snowball in hell chance for IOC to set that bad precedent. It’s 200% FIG mess, but FIG’s hand is tied by their rules.
Based on the article it seems that FIG’s hands are tied because they want them to be tied
Otherwise there will be even more controversies down the road if the rules are not clear and rigid. They, as well as any category when subjectivity plays an important role, should consider to give each head coach one but only one red flag challenge for the whole event, and use it then loses it. So the governing body can be in a very defensible position: 1) red flag challenge used, some rules such as inquiring time limit no longer apply (to a point) or 2) too bad you used up your red flag challenge for the whole event. Be more selective next time.