Rio de Janeiro Police Chief Fernando Veloso has said the USA athletes were not actually robbed, but were detained after vandalizing a bathroom at a gas station.
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A statement from Rio police reads, “The U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte has been charged with the crime of false communication”.
Police said in their statement that the investigator in charge of the case had recommended to judges that Lochte be deposed in the United States and that a transcript be sent to the ethical commission of the International Olympic Committee (DOC).
Lochte, 32, told PEOPLE he was sorry for falsely claiming that he and three other swimmers were robbed at a Rio gas station during the Olympics.
On Thursday Lochte did pick up one new sponsor account in Pine Bros.
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo lasted just three plays in a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks after getting pulled down from behind by Cliff Avril.
Lochte can opt to send a lawyer and does not need to appear in court.
Rio de Janeiro police made the decision to file on Thursday, according to news reports.
Lochte recently admitted that he “over-exaggerated” the story. Speedo announced Monday that they are dropping their sponsorship of Lochte. Lochte fabricated a tale that he was robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro during the Olympics. Lochte’s allegations were called into question by local law enforcement officials, who were suspicious of the swimmer’s story. He will appear in ads that say the company’s products are “Forgiving On Your Throat”.
Meanwhile, if Lochte gained one endorsement, Jamaican runner Usain Bolt – who has his own controversy involving having a one-night stand with a 20-year-old Brazilian woman in Rio – was signed by sports brand Nike to a lifetime deal, reports ESPN.
Brazilian police alleged that the US swimmers vandalized a gas station restroom.
Since the two cases are hardly apples to apples, let’s use them more as a jumping-off point for a serious discussion about sexism in sports.
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No matter. It was Lochte’s lies that turned this into an worldwide incident, and prompted both USA Swimming and the USOC to say they’re considering possible sanctions.
