The suspension’s length means Lochte would next be eligible for a major worldwide meet at the 2018 Pan-Pacific Championships, when he would be 34. In addition to the embarrassment of it all, he lost four endorsement deals in the wake of the scandal that consumed the final days of US media of the Olympics.
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For those who need a reminder about Lochte’s flop, the disgraced swimmer alleged that after celebrating with a few of his teammates one night in Rio, a group of men with guns and knives confronted and robbed them at a gas station.
Ryan Lochte said he was in a “really dark place” and wanted to hide following the controversy over the Rio incident, which ultimately led to a 10-month suspension from national and global swim competitions.
Last month, the Olympic gold medallist claimed he and three teammates – Jimmy Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger – were help up after stopping at a petrol station after a party.
He will miss next year’s national championships and will therefore not be eligible for the world championships in July.
While the near-10-month suspension is four months longer than the one Michael Phelps received in 2014 for his second DUI, the ouster from next year’s world championships isn’t considered major, in part because those championships typically attract a lesser field in the year after the Olympics. During this time, he won’t get his allowance from USA Swimming of the USOC and can’t access any training centers of the USOC. It unfairly maligned our hosts and diverted attention away from the historic achievements of Team USA, ‘ said Scott Blackmun, the USOC CEO.
“He said it’s not what you did it’s what you do now that will shape who you are and I took that to heart and ya know that’s what I’m gonna do”.
He will also forfeit the $100,000 (£75,000) in bonus money that went with his gold medal at the Games.
In addition to losing multiple sponsorships, including Ralph Lauren and Speedo, the swimmer now won’t receive his $3,500-a-month stipend from Team USA over the next 10 months. He added, “We look forward to focusing our energy on the Paralympic Games and the incredible men and women representing our country in Rio”.
He said he had “tarnished” the games and overshadowed the fans and other athletes competing.
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USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus said today that the American swimmers “had lapses in judgement” and engaged in behavior that broke the code of conduct for U.S. Olympic athletes.
