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Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte charged with falsely reporting robbery in Rio

Police in Brazil said the officer in charge of the investigation has recommended to judges Lochte be informed of the charges in the US.

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set up a disciplinary commission to investigate the incident and the four athletes’ behaviour.

His lawyers insist they have yet to gain receipt of the charges, but state they “intend to fully co-operate” with Rio lawmakers.

Following the incident, Lochte flew back to the United States, while the other three swimmers – Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen – stayed in Brazil.

Since returning to the U.S., Lochte has apologized. Security video showed the four facing security guards after vandalizing a gas station restroom. He has already gained a new sponsor in Pine Brothers cough drops, who signed him to appear in their new ads.

The report was filed during the Summer Olympics, which ended Sunday in Rio de Janeiro.

Lochte has lost several sponsors in the past week, including sportswear manufacturer Speedo.

According to Brazilian law, the maximum penalty for falsely filing a report to the police could carry up to 18 months in jail.

He was the breakout star of the 2012 London Olympics, landing a short-lived reality TV series called “What Would Ryan Lochte Do?”

Brazil had deployed 85,000 police and soldiers to secure the Games.

The US and Brazil have an extradition treaty which Brazil has flouted in the past. Brazil and the United States have had an extradition treaty in place since the 1960s, but whether or not the US government would comply and extradite Lochte if he is found guilty remains to be seen. He is facing further punishment from the U.S. Olympic Committee. “I’m confident that Pine Bros. fans will support our decision to give Ryan a second chance”.

Lochte originally described the August 14 incident as an armed robbery, telling police and media that he and three teammates were robbed at gunpoint during the Rio Olympics.

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