U.S. Swimmier Ryan Lochte has been indicted in Brazil on a charge of filing a false police report in connection with his claims of being an armed robbery victim.
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A police statement said Lochte would be informed in the United States so he could decide whether to introduce a defence in Brazil. Police say Lochte will be summoned to Brazil for the August 14 incident but is allowed to send a lawyer on his behalf.
Lochte had no comment on the charges or the new sponsorship, his spokeswoman Melissa Nathan said.
Explaining why the manufacturer of cough drops signed Lochte while four of the swimmer’s sponsors dropped him, Rider McDowell, chief executive of Pine Bros, says he wants to give Lochte a second chance. As Romo scrambled and was about to begin his slide, he was pulled down by Avril chasing in pursuit.
Ryan Lochte has officially been charged for his 2016 Rio Olympics crime.
Lochte has apologized, saying he was drunk and that his behavior led to the incident.
Surveillance footage only backed Brazilian police’s story, as the swimmers were seen exiting the Rio gas station.
The gold medal victor has since apologised for making up what he described as an exaggerated story about being robbed at gunpoint.
But police said he made up the story and officers produced video evidence that the group were actually challenged by security guards after they vandalised a petrol station toilet.
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“Just as Pine Bros.is forgiving to your throat, the company asks the public for a little forgiveness for an American swimming legend”, the company said in a statement, according to NBC. Lochte, who returned to America shortly after the incident, could be tried in absentia should he choose not to return to Brazil. Speedo announced Monday that they are dropping their sponsorship of Lochte. Rio police rejected this version of events and accused Lochte and the others of lying. It is said to be the biggest single-athlete deal in Nike’s 46-year history wherein the fastest man would earn up to US$30 million (A$39.31 million) yearly.
