Lochte, a 12-time Olympic medalist, has lost a slew of sponsorship deals following the Rio escapade.
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As part of his punishment, Lochte will not receive a monthly stipend and will have no direct support or access to USOC training facilities during the suspension.
The new sanctions mean that the athlete also forfeits all USOC and USA Swimming funds that might have been brought about by the gold medal he won at this year’s Olympics.
‘Each of the athletes has accepted responsibility for his actions and accepted the appropriate sanctions, ‘ Blackmun added. You can’t say that Lochte isn’t being honest now, which is a nice change of pace.
He said he had “tarnished” the games and overshadowed the fans and other athletes competing.
According to a report from CNN, the swimmer is being suspended for 10 months. Instead, the biggest news revolved around Ryan Lochte and three of his teammates, who shared a wild night that led to an altercation at a gas station in Rio.
The swimmer, however, stuck by his claim that a gun had been pointed at him by a stranger – a gas station security guard who would not let the four leave until they had paid money for the damages.
Last month, Brazilian police charged Lochte with filing a false robbery report, but he is unlikely to return to Brazil to defend himself.
The U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Swimming announced the penalties on Thursday and the 32-year-old swimmer agreed to the ban.
The other three swimmers will also be suspended from domestic and worldwide competition, but for four months and lose their monthly allowances.
Following the Rio scandal, Lochte has been vocal, saying he was sorry for the incident and publicly apologized for his misdemeanor.
While Lochte left Rio a couple of days after the incident, Bentz and Conger were dramatically hauled off a US-bound flight and only allowed to leave the country after questioning.
He has said he plans to continue his swimming career, but in the short term he has signed on to participate in ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” which premiers next week.
That story caused a media outcry in a city where street violence is a constant danger, but after Brazilian officials cast doubt on the story, Lochte later admitted embellishing elements of it.
While he returned to the U.S. in the days following the incident, Bentz and Conger were pulled off a US-bound plane by police, though they were subsequently allowed to leave after questioning.
The swimmer’s sponsorship deals have taken a hit since the incident, with Speedo, Polo Ralph Lauren, Gentle Hair Removal and mattress maker Airweave all saying they would be cutting ties with Lochte after the global incident.
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The punishment has been handed down by the US Olympic Committee (USOC) and USA Swimming.
