Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu to boycott Olympic closing ceremony due to Jordan Chiles-Ana Barbosu decision

The Olympics are commonly positioned as a force of unity and togetherness, sports forging bonds between Olympic competitors and nations. But it can also be a source of controversy, too.

And when it comes to Jordan Chiles‘ bronze medal for the United States in the women’s floor routine in gymnastics, Romania and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu have beef with not only the Americans, but the judges and IOC. It all stems from a minor scoring change made after a U.S. inquiry into the judging which vaulted Chiles onto the podium, displacing Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu and causing this stir.

And now Ciolacu is saying he plans to boycott the closing ceremonies on Aug. 11 over the matter.

“I decided not to attend the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics, following the scandalous situation in the gymnastics, where our athletes were treated in an absolutely dishonorable manner,” Ciolacu said in a post on Facebook. “To withdraw a medal earned for honest work on the basis of an appeal… is totally unacceptable!”

Following the completion of the floor routine competition, Chiles’ scores had her in fifth place while Barbosu was third. The American contingent lodged a formal inquiry with the judging, causing Chiles’ score to go up by just 0.1 points, but enough to leap her two spots and into position for a bronze medal.

When the moment happened in the arena, Barbosu, who had been celebrating with a Romanian flag around her shoulders, dropped the flag and quickly left the scene with her tear-streaked face buried in her hands.

Ciolacu claimed international audiences were “literally shocked by this terrible scene” and argued it highlighted something wrong in the systems used to adjudicate the Olympics.

Ciolacu isn’t the only Romanian voice lending support to Barbosu either through actions or words, either.

Legendary Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci posted on social media decrying the situation.

“I can’t believe we play with athletes mental health and emotions like this,” Comaneci said.

In his Facebook post, Ciolacu also alluded to the prestige even a bronze medal carries, and what it means for these athletes to try and achieve for their nations.

“You have with you an entire nation for which your work and tears are more precious than any medal, no matter what precious metal they are from,” Ciolacu said.

And few things but the Olympics could cause an international stir over a last-second scoring change for a gymnastics routine.