Lochte, too, was ordered to stay behind in Brazil, but had left the country and returned to the US before getting that official word.
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The disciplinary commission for Lochte, Jimmy Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger will “investigate and hear all sides”, International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said Friday evening.
Police have dismissed this version of events, also releasing CCTV footage that appears to undermine the story.
The 32-year-old has said sorry for not being “more careful and candid” about the claim.
However, this was not the case for Conger or his fellow teammates, the group of U.S swimmers celebrated a night out in Rio de Janeiro and ended damaging a gas station’s bathroom, urinating in public and confronting the city’s police.
“I am grateful for my USA Swimming teammates and the USOC, and appreciate all of the efforts of the IOC, the Rio ’16 Host Committee, and the people of Brazil who welcomed us to Rio and worked so hard to make sure that these Olympic Games provided a lifetime of great new memories”, Ryan concluded. In reaction to this, an armed security guard demanded money from the men, about $50, news outlets reported. “They stopped at a gas station to use the restroom, where one of the athletes committed an act of vandalism”.
“We want to put this matter to an end and I don’t see this as a fact that will mark these Games”, Games spokesman Mario Andrada said of Lochte’s apology.
“It’s traumatic to be out late with your friends in a foreign country – with a language barrier – and have a stranger point a gun at you and demand money to let you leave, but regardless of the behavior of anyone else that night, I should have been much more responsible in how I handled myself”.
Lochte also changed his original account about the robbers putting a gun to his forehead.
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Following the initial incident, a judge had issued an order to seize the passports of the swimmers, but Lochte had already returned to the US. Two other swimmers, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz, were pulled from their flight on Wednesday and interrogated – and eventually confessed that the story had been fabricated. If prosecutors win their appeal, Feigen would only have to pay if he ever wanted to return to Brazil. Police still want to speak to Lochte, who was also summonsed to appear before the judge on Friday, and say they hope to agree with USA authorities to interview him in the United States.
