Of the four, Lochte was the first to leave the country, thus eluding an attempt by police to seize his and Feigen’s passports earlier this week.
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One or more of the swimmers vandalized a bathroom at the gas station, police said.
The International Olympic Committee is looking to set up a disciplinary commission to determine if swimmer Ryan Lochte and three of his teammates will face punishment over what Brazilian authorities say was a fabricated story about a robbery during the Rio games, ABC News confirmed.
Earlier today, JOL News reported that US Olympic swimmers Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz landed this afternoon (Friday) in the US after they were detained in Brazil and questioned about the vandalism affair and the robbery that turned out to be a cover story.
Though the United States committee apologized, the statement still largely corroborates Lochte’s account: The four were in a taxi, a gun was brandished and money was exchanged.
Ryan Lochte posted this to note to Instagram: “I want to apologize for my behavior last weekend – for not being more careful and candid in how I described the events that early morning”. “It’s a reminder that all of us, when we travel and especially when we represent the U.S.in the Olympics, are ambassadors for our country and should be on our best behavior”. A few hours later, the 12-time Olympic medalist issued an apology: “I accept responsibility for my role”.
The drama surrounding the alleged robbery – and the ever-changing descriptions of it by the swimmers – has shocked and deeply angered Brazilians, who said it cast a false negative shadow on their city and their Olympics at a time the country is eager to prove it can host the games safely.
“I should have been much more responsible in how I handled myself and for that am sorry to my teammates, my fans, my fellow competitors, my sponsors, and the hosts of this great event”.
Local organizers and the mayor of Rio de Janeiro said they accepted Lochte’s apology. After they were pulled off a USA -bound airliner for questioning Wednesday, their passports were seized and they spent hours at a police station before staying in Brazil for an extra night.
Police said that witnesses were initially afraid to speak and that there was no evidence against the athletes. The group, as well as Olympic officials, publicly expressed disappointment and said they would further examine the matter. One pulled a gun on Lochte after he became angrily confrontational, Veloso said.
While he’s medaled often, Lochte’s accomplishments have always been overshadowed by teammate Michael Phelps – the most decorated Olympian in history.
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Veloso said the other swimmers say it was Lochte, who created the lie. Lochte won a gold in Rio in a relay race alongside Phelps. The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) denied a CNN report that Lochte would be suspended by USA Swimming and USOC for allegedly lying about being held up at gunpoint on their way back to the athletes’ village following a night out in Rio.
