United States swimming star Ryan Lochte has been charged with making a false statement about being robbed at gunpoint during the Olympics, Brazilian police said Thursday.
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Lochte won one gold medal at the Rio Olympics.
Lochte and three Olympic swimmer teammates-Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen-lied about being robbed at gunpoint, Brazilian authorities said. Officers discovered CCTV footage showing the group vandalizing the bathroom of a gas station and fighting with its staff.
The penalty for falsely filing a crime report carries a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison under Brazilian law, and Lochte can be tried in his absence.
The 12-time Olympic medalist will now be summoned to Rio.
All four of Mr Lochte’s main corporate sponsors have cut ties with the swimmer, putting his professional future in doubt.
When filing the charges, Brazilian police also recommended courts issue Mr Lochte with a summons.
Just days after losing all four of his major sponsors, Ryan Lochte has found a bit of redemption and signed a new endorsement deal with Pine Bros. Softish Throat Drops, which makes cough drops. He’ll appear in ads that say the company products are “Forgiving of Your Throat”.
It’s possible that Brazil could request Lochte be extradited to face the charge.
The three other swimmers were questioned by police before they were allowed to leave Brazil. Feigen, who paid almost $11,000 to a charity, eventually was allowed to leave as well.
He has since apologised for making up what he called an exaggerated story about being robbed. “Brazil doesn’t deserve that”.
Surveillance video shows Ryan Lochte (2nd from r.) and teammates at the Rio gas station on August 14.
Lochte’s account of being held up embarrassed Rio, which had deployed 85,000 police and soldiers during the games.
It dominated news coverage of South America’s first Olympics, amid heightened concerns over security in the crime-ridden metropolis. The statement also said a copy of the evidence could be sent to the International Olympic Committee’s ethics commission. Blackmun did not offer specifics but expressed frustration at their behavior.
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