U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte charged by Rio police with false report of robbery
RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazilian police have charged American swimmer Ryan Lochte with filing a false robbery report over an incident during the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
A police statement Thursday says Lochte will be informed in the United States so he can decide whether to introduce a defense in Brazil. The indictment will be sent to the International Olympic Committee’s ethics commission.
Lochte initially said that he and fellow swimmers Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen were robbed at gunpoint in a taxi by men with a police badge as they returned to the Olympic Village from a party. However, security video suggested the four actually faced security guards after vandalizing a gas station restroom.
Lochte has since acknowledged he was highly intoxicated and his behavior led to the confrontation.
He lost many key sponsors in the aftermath. Speedo announced Monday morning it was ending its sponsorship of Lochte as did Ralph Lauren and Airweave mattresses.
Lochte and the other swimmers could face sanctions from USA Swimming, including fines or suspension. The group, as well as Olympic officials, publicly expressed disappointment.
“I would suspect that there would be some kind of suspension involved,” Mark Schubert, Lochte’s Olympic team coach in 2008, told CBS New. “United States Swimming will take a tough stance because it certainly has been embarrassing to the sport of swimming.”
Lochte, 32, has said he plans to take an extended break after the Rio Games and relocate to Los Angeles. Swimming’s biggest meet next year is the world championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Local organizers and the mayor of Rio de Janeiro previously said they accepted Lochte’s apology.
“My feeling is one of pity,” Mayor Eduardo Paes said. “They did not represent the American athletes that are here.”