Brazilian police have recommended charging U.S. Olympic swimming champions Ryan Lochte and Jimmy Feigen with giving false testimony, Brazilian TV said on Thursday, after authorities accused the pair of lying about being robbed at gunpoint.
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The Associated Press on Thursday quoted an unnamed source that Lochte, Conger, Bentz and Feigen took a taxi to leave a party and stopped at a gas station in Barra da Tijuca, a Rio suburb where numerous Olympic venues are located, at about 6 a.m.
After days of standing by the swimmers’ story, the USOC backed up other police evidence, including a security video showing the swimmers in an argument with staff at the Shell service station.
Brazilian police say three of the 4 USA swimmers involved in the armed robbery scandal at the Games in Rio are cooperating with police.
“The behaviour of these athletes is not acceptable, nor does it represent the values of Team USA or the conduct of the vast majority of its members”, Blackmun’s statement read in part. In the statement, the USOC apologized to the people of Brazil for the swimmers’ “unacceptable” behavior and noted that they’ll be reviewing the matter further, as well as considering “any potential consequences for the athletes”.
“The three U.S. Olympic swimmers (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen) are cooperating with authorities and in the process of scheduling a time and place today to provide further statements to the Brazilian authorities”, Sandusky said in a statement Thursday.
But Brazilian television aired this surveillance video taken at the gas station.
As they walked from the building, a waiting crowd shouted “liars” and “fakes”.
The swimmers have cooperated with police, the sources told ABC News. Lochte had said earlier this week they were held up at gunpoint after a night of partying.
Lochte and the swimmers instead allegedly vandalized a gas station on Sunday, with the station’s owner telling Globo the swimmers urinated on the walls. “Once the security officials received money from the athletes, the athletes were allowed to leave”, the USOC said. The athletes broke mirrors and damaged other things in the bathroom, police said.
According to Lochte’s account, $US400 ($A520) was stolen from them. A second guard came behind him and pointed another gun. After a discussion, they paid him an unknown amount of money and then left.
Brazilian police said there are major discrepancies in the four swimmers’ versions of events which Lochte has put down to the trauma of the event.
All four swimmers could certainly face punishment for any alleged fabrication, including probation, suspension, a fine, or even expulsion from the sport. They departed for an unspecified location in Brazil and had yet to testify, said attorney Sergio Viegas.
They trained for four years, they competed under very big pressure.
“I understand this issue is under investigation but let’s give those kids a break. Sometimes you take actions that you later regret”, Andrada said. They were whisked through security and did not have to wait in line.
“I don’t know the consequences, but they should face because it’s a awful image for the city that’s already facing so much criticism”.
“I don’t think it’s something of lasting outcome”, Summers said.
How did the athletes appear to be acting when they returned to the Olympic Village at 6:56 a.m.?
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He had insisted the swimmer had nothing to gain by making the story up.
