Brazilian police have charged Lochte with filing a false robbery report over the incident that occurred during the Rio Olympics.
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That and filing a false robbery report isn’t an extraditable offense, meaning that Lochte can’t be forced to go to Brazil for it. The court, which was established before Brazil hosted soccer’s 2014 World Cup, is authorized to receive cases straight from the police when lesser charges are involved, without a need for prosecutors.
The Associated Press is additionally reporting that Lochte would be informed of the charge in the United States, giving him the chance to decide whether he’s going to form a defense in Brazil or not.
It said the case was turned over to a special Brazilian court that has jurisdiction over crimes related to major sporting events.
But the police say he made up the story and officers produced video evidence that the group were actually challenged by security guards after they had vandalised a petrol station toilet. The swimmer’s initial story, which he told to NBC on the day of the incident, was that he and three teammates had been pulled over in a taxi by men with a police badge, and then robbed at gunpoint.
Lochte had no comment on the charges or the new sponsorship, his spokeswoman Melissa Nathan said. She notes that the USA has an extradition treaty with Brazil but that it’s unlikely Lochte would be sent there if convicted.
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The athletes were returning to the Olympic Village after celebrating the end of the swimming competition at the Rio Games, according to Lochte. He has already gained a new sponsor in Pine Brothers cough drops, who signed him to appear in their new ads.
