Brazilian police charged US swimmer Ryan Lochte yesterday, over making a false statement about being robbed at gunpoint at Rio Olympics. 
 
The US swimmer told police and media last week that he and three team mates were robbed by armed men during the Rio Olympics. Brazilian police denied the happening of any such crime and said that Lochte was responsible for an act of vandalism in a gas station while returning home inebriated after a party. 
 
One police official quoted by Brazilian media said the 32-year-old gold medal-winner risks a jail sentence, though judicial authorities had yet to confirm that. 
 
&quot;Ryan Lochte was charged with the crime of falsely reporting a crime,&quot; police said in a statement, adding that the case had been referred to the courts. 
 
The police statement said they had recommended that the courts issue a summons for Lochte to be questioned. 
 
&quot;Once he is summoned, whether he turns up or not, the penalty is the same: one to six months&#39; prison,&quot; Rio police official Clemente Braune was quoted as saying by news website G1. &quot;If he is summoned and does not turn up to the hearing, the trial will go ahead in the accused&#39;s absence until the final sentence is given.&quot; 
 
Last week, Lochte made an apology for falsely claiming that he and his three team-mates had been robbed by armed men pretending to be police on their way home from a party. 
 
The swimmers were detained when they tried to run away after vandalising a gas station bathroom,&nbsp;Rio police chief Fernando Veloso later told a press conference 
 
Lochte&#39;s false claims humiliated first the Brazilian hosts of the Games and later Lochte&#39;s own Team USA when police contested his story. 
 
Top sponsors such as Speedo and Ralph Lauren this week dropped Lochte after the incident. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m taking full responsibility for it,&quot; Lochte said in an interview broadcast in part late Saturday. &quot;I over-exaggerated that story and if I had never done that, we wouldn&#39;t be in this mess.&quot; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

The police statement said they had recommended that the courts issue a summons for the 32-year-old gold medal-winner to be questioned

Brazilian police charged US swimmer Ryan Lochte yesterday, over making a false statement about being robbed at gunpoint at Rio Olympics. The US swimmer told police and media last week that he and three team mates were robbed by armed men during the Rio Olympics. Brazilian police denied the happening of any such crime and said that Lochte was responsible for an act of vandalism in a gas station while returning home inebriated after a party. One police official quoted by Brazilian media said the 32-year-old gold medal-winner risks a jail sentence, though judicial authorities had yet to confirm that. "Ryan Lochte was charged with the crime of falsely reporting a crime," police said in a statement, adding that the case had been referred to the courts. The police statement said they had recommended that the courts issue a summons for Lochte to be questioned. "Once he is summoned, whether he turns up or not, the penalty is the same: one to six months' prison," Rio police official Clemente Braune was quoted as saying by news website G1. "If he is summoned and does not turn up to the hearing, the trial will go ahead in the accused's absence until the final sentence is given." Last week, Lochte made an apology for falsely claiming that he and his three team-mates had been robbed by armed men pretending to be police on their way home from a party. The swimmers were detained when they tried to run away after vandalising a gas station bathroom, Rio police chief Fernando Veloso later told a press conference Lochte's false claims humiliated first the Brazilian hosts of the Games and later Lochte's own Team USA when police contested his story. Top sponsors such as Speedo and Ralph Lauren this week dropped Lochte after the incident. "I'm taking full responsibility for it," Lochte said in an interview broadcast in part late Saturday. "I over-exaggerated that story and if I had never done that, we wouldn't be in this mess." (WION with inputs from agencies)

US swimmer Lochte charged over false robbery claim

Swimwear maker Speedo and luxury retailer Ralph Lauren Corp ended their sponsorship contracts with Ryan Lochte, days after the US swimmer admitted to exaggerating his story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio during the Olympics. 
 
The incident embarrassed the host city, angered the local police and government and dominated news coverage of South America&#39;s first Olympics, leading the US Olympic Committee to issue an apology. 
 
Lochte, a 12-time Olympic medalist, apologised on Saturday in an interview to Brazil&#39;s largest broadcaster, Globo TV. &quot;I wasn&#39;t lying to a certain extent,&quot; he said. &quot;I over-exaggerated what was happening to me.&quot; 
 
Within hours of the Games coming to a close, Speedo USA issued a statement saying it would drop Lochte as one of its endorsers, while Ralph Lauren said it would not be renewing its contract with the swimmer. 
 
Hair removal company Syneron Candela also ended its partnership with Lochte, four months after naming him its global brand ambassador for one of its products. 
 
Nottingham, UK-based Speedo&#39;s US unit said on Monday it would donate $50,000 of Lochte&#39;s fee to Save The Children, a global charity partner of Speedo. 
 
Lochte said in an email that he respected Speedo&#39;s decision. 
 
&quot;I was immature and I made a stupid mistake. I&#39;m human. I made a mistake and I definitely learned from this,&quot; Lochte said in an interview on the Today show. 
 
&quot;They (the people of Rio) put on a great Games. And my immature, intoxicated behavior tarnished that a little,&quot; Lochte said. 
 
Another sponsor, Japanese mattress maker Airweave, had said on Friday that it would continue to monitor the investigation. 
 
&quot;As long as he is a respectable athlete, he will remain a US ambassador for Airweave as long as our partnership agreement remains effective,&quot; Motokuni Takaoka, CEO of Airweave, had said in an email. Airweave could not be reached for comment today. 
 
Ralph Lauren said its endorsement agreement with Lochte was specifically for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The company had taken down references to the gold medalist from its website last week. 
 
Lochte, 32, won one gold medal at the Rio Olympics. He was the breakout star of the 2012 London Olympics, landing a short-lived reality TV series called &quot;What Would Ryan Lochte Do?&quot; and appearing, as himself, on top shows like &quot;30 Rock&quot; and &quot;90210&quot;. 
 
(Reuters)

Lochte said in an email that he respected Speedo's decision. 'I was immature and I made a stupid mistake,' he apologised in an interview

Swimwear maker Speedo and luxury retailer Ralph Lauren Corp ended their sponsorship contracts with Ryan Lochte, days after the US swimmer admitted to exaggerating his story about being robbed at gunpoint in Rio during the Olympics. The incident embarrassed the host city, angered the local police and government and dominated news coverage of South America's first Olympics, leading the US Olympic Committee to issue an apology. Lochte, a 12-time Olympic medalist, apologised on Saturday in an interview to Brazil's largest broadcaster, Globo TV. "I wasn't lying to a certain extent," he said. "I over-exaggerated what was happening to me." Within hours of the Games coming to a close, Speedo USA issued a statement saying it would drop Lochte as one of its endorsers, while Ralph Lauren said it would not be renewing its contract with the swimmer. Hair removal company Syneron Candela also ended its partnership with Lochte, four months after naming him its global brand ambassador for one of its products. Nottingham, UK-based Speedo's US unit said on Monday it would donate $50,000 of Lochte's fee to Save The Children, a global charity partner of Speedo. Lochte said in an email that he respected Speedo's decision. "I was immature and I made a stupid mistake. I'm human. I made a mistake and I definitely learned from this," Lochte said in an interview on the Today show. "They (the people of Rio) put on a great Games. And my immature, intoxicated behavior tarnished that a little," Lochte said. Another sponsor, Japanese mattress maker Airweave, had said on Friday that it would continue to monitor the investigation. "As long as he is a respectable athlete, he will remain a US ambassador for Airweave as long as our partnership agreement remains effective," Motokuni Takaoka, CEO of Airweave, had said in an email. Airweave could not be reached for comment today. Ralph Lauren said its endorsement agreement with Lochte was specifically for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The company had taken down references to the gold medalist from its website last week. Lochte, 32, won one gold medal at the Rio Olympics. He was the breakout star of the 2012 London Olympics, landing a short-lived reality TV series called "What Would Ryan Lochte Do?" and appearing, as himself, on top shows like "30 Rock" and "90210". (Reuters)

Speedo, Ralph Lauren drop Ryan Lochte after Rio incident

Brazilian police stopped three US Olympic swimmers from boarding a flight home yesterday to question them about inconsistencies in their accounts of being robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro, police sources said. 
 
Federal police also want to question gold medallist Ryan Lochte, but he had already returned to the United States. 
 
A Brazilian judge ordered police yesterday to seize the passports of Lochte and fellow gold medallist James Feigen so they could be questioned over their description of the robbery, which took place in the early hours of Sunday morning and also involved team mates Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger. 
 
Lochte, 32, one of swimming&#39;s most decorated Olympians, had flown home already on Monday, a police spokesman said. The other three men were stopped by police at Rio&#39;s international airport yesterday evening, one police source said. 
 
A spokesman for the US Olympic Committee (USOC) confirmed that Bentz and Conger were pulled from their flight. 
 
&quot;We can confirm that Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were removed from their flight to the United States by Brazilian authorities,&quot; said Patrick Sandusky, USOC spokesperson. 
 
&quot;We are gathering further information.&quot; 
 
The police source said Feigen had been detained by police before he boarded the plane and was then taken for questioning along with the other two. There are no charges facing the three men, the source said. 
 
(Reuters)

A Brazilian judge ordered police yesterday to seize the passports of Lochte and fellow gold medallist James Feigen

Brazilian police stopped three US Olympic swimmers from boarding a flight home yesterday to question them about inconsistencies in their accounts of being robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro, police sources said. Federal police also want to question gold medallist Ryan Lochte, but he had already returned to the United States. A Brazilian judge ordered police yesterday to seize the passports of Lochte and fellow gold medallist James Feigen so they could be questioned over their description of the robbery, which took place in the early hours of Sunday morning and also involved team mates Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger. Lochte, 32, one of swimming's most decorated Olympians, had flown home already on Monday, a police spokesman said. The other three men were stopped by police at Rio's international airport yesterday evening, one police source said. A spokesman for the US Olympic Committee (USOC) confirmed that Bentz and Conger were pulled from their flight. "We can confirm that Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were removed from their flight to the United States by Brazilian authorities," said Patrick Sandusky, USOC spokesperson. "We are gathering further information." The police source said Feigen had been detained by police before he boarded the plane and was then taken for questioning along with the other two. There are no charges facing the three men, the source said. (Reuters)

Rio Olympics 2016: Brazil police pull US swimmers from flight in robbery probe

A Brazilian judge on Wednesday ordered that US Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte and teammate James Feigen be prevented from leaving the country after doubts emerged over their claim to have been mugged at gunpoint. 
 
Judge Keyla Blank &quot;issued warrants for searches and the seizure of the passports for the US swimmers&quot;, a statement from her office said. &quot;With this, they are banned from leaving the country.&quot; 
 
There were unconfirmed Brazilian media reports that Lochte had already left Brazil. Rio police did not respond immediately to requests for comment.&nbsp;The US Olympic Committee refused to comment on the athletes&#39; whereabouts but confirmed that Brazilian police were looking for the swimmers. 
 
&ldquo;Local police arrived at the Olympic Village this am and asked to meet with Ryan Lochte and James Feigen and collect their passports in order to secure further testimony from the athletes,&quot; spokesman Patrick Sandusky said. 
 
&quot;The swim team moved out of the village after their competition ended, so we were not able to make the athletes available.&nbsp;Additionally, as part of our standard security protocol, we do not make athlete travel plans public and therefore cannot confirm the athletes&#39; current location.&quot; 
 
Sandusky said the US team would &quot;continue to cooperate with Brazilian authorities&rdquo;.&nbsp;Lochte says that he and three teammates were held up by muggers posing as police as they left a party in central Rio. 
 
Lochte said he had a gun put to his forehead in the robbery&nbsp;when the swimmers&#39; taxi was pulled over by criminals who forced them to lie on the ground and stole money and other items. 
 
&quot;The guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, &#39;Get down&#39;,&quot; Lochte said afterwards. &quot;He took our money, he took my wallet, he left my cell phone, he left my credentials.&quot; 
 
However, Olympic officials have said police are still looking for key witnesses, including the driver of the cab the swimmers said they had been in.&nbsp;Blank&#39;s office said the judge was probing &quot;possible inconsistencies in the swimmers&#39; stories&quot;.&nbsp;These included different accounts of how many assailants there were. 
 
Another point raising doubts over the swimmers&#39; stories was their behavior, caught on security cameras, as they returned to their hotel after the supposed robbery, the judge said. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s noticeable that the victims arrived back physically and mentally unshaken, even joking with each other,&quot; the judge said. 
 
(AFP)

This prevents the Olympic gold medalist from leaving the country after doubts emerge of claim that he and teammates were robbed at gunpoint

A Brazilian judge on Wednesday ordered that US Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte and teammate James Feigen be prevented from leaving the country after doubts emerged over their claim to have been mugged at gunpoint. Judge Keyla Blank "issued warrants for searches and the seizure of the passports for the US swimmers", a statement from her office said. "With this, they are banned from leaving the country." There were unconfirmed Brazilian media reports that Lochte had already left Brazil. Rio police did not respond immediately to requests for comment. The US Olympic Committee refused to comment on the athletes' whereabouts but confirmed that Brazilian police were looking for the swimmers. “Local police arrived at the Olympic Village this am and asked to meet with Ryan Lochte and James Feigen and collect their passports in order to secure further testimony from the athletes," spokesman Patrick Sandusky said. "The swim team moved out of the village after their competition ended, so we were not able to make the athletes available. Additionally, as part of our standard security protocol, we do not make athlete travel plans public and therefore cannot confirm the athletes' current location." Sandusky said the US team would "continue to cooperate with Brazilian authorities”. Lochte says that he and three teammates were held up by muggers posing as police as they left a party in central Rio. Lochte said he had a gun put to his forehead in the robbery when the swimmers' taxi was pulled over by criminals who forced them to lie on the ground and stole money and other items. "The guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, 'Get down'," Lochte said afterwards. "He took our money, he took my wallet, he left my cell phone, he left my credentials." However, Olympic officials have said police are still looking for key witnesses, including the driver of the cab the swimmers said they had been in. Blank's office said the judge was probing "possible inconsistencies in the swimmers' stories". These included different accounts of how many assailants there were. Another point raising doubts over the swimmers' stories was their behavior, caught on security cameras, as they returned to their hotel after the supposed robbery, the judge said. "It's noticeable that the victims arrived back physically and mentally unshaken, even joking with each other," the judge said. (AFP)

Brazilian judge orders seizure of Ryan Lochte's passport

US gold medal swimmer Ryan Lochte and three teammates were robbed in a taxi hold-up by men posing as armed police officers, the United States Olympic Committee confirmed on Sunday. 
 
US gold medallist Lochte said armed robbers posing as police officers held a gun to his forehead in a taxi hold-up in Rio after a party early on Sunday.&nbsp;The men told the swimmers to drop to the ground and demanded their money and belongings, but Lochte said he had initially refused to go to ground. 
 
&quot;According to four members of the US Olympic swimming team (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen and Ryan Lochte), they left France House early Sunday morning in a taxi headed for the Olympic Village,&quot; USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said. 
 
&quot;Their taxi was stopped by individuals posing as armed police officers who demanded the athletes&#39; money and other personal belongings. All four athletes are safe and cooperating with authorities.&quot; 
 
Lochte&#39;s mother said the swimmer was unharmed but was shaken by the incident.&nbsp;&quot;I think they&#39;re all shaken up. There were a few of them,&quot; Ileana Lochte told USA Today. &quot;No, they were just, they just took their wallets and basically that was it.&quot; 
 
Michael Phelps yesterday said he reacted with disbelief when he heard his teammate Ryan Lochte had been involved in a taxi hold-up in Rio de Janeiro, and confirmed to reporters that he was not present when the incident took place. 
 
Security has been a major headache for organisers of South America&#39;s first Olympics. 
 
(Reuters)

Armed robbers posing as police officers held a gun to Lochte's forehead in a taxi hold-up after a party early on Sunday

US gold medal swimmer Ryan Lochte and three teammates were robbed in a taxi hold-up by men posing as armed police officers, the United States Olympic Committee confirmed on Sunday. US gold medallist Lochte said armed robbers posing as police officers held a gun to his forehead in a taxi hold-up in Rio after a party early on Sunday. The men told the swimmers to drop to the ground and demanded their money and belongings, but Lochte said he had initially refused to go to ground. "According to four members of the US Olympic swimming team (Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen and Ryan Lochte), they left France House early Sunday morning in a taxi headed for the Olympic Village," USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said. "Their taxi was stopped by individuals posing as armed police officers who demanded the athletes' money and other personal belongings. All four athletes are safe and cooperating with authorities." Lochte's mother said the swimmer was unharmed but was shaken by the incident. "I think they're all shaken up. There were a few of them," Ileana Lochte told USA Today. "No, they were just, they just took their wallets and basically that was it." Michael Phelps yesterday said he reacted with disbelief when he heard his teammate Ryan Lochte had been involved in a taxi hold-up in Rio de Janeiro, and confirmed to reporters that he was not present when the incident took place. Security has been a major headache for organisers of South America's first Olympics. (Reuters)

Rio Olympics 2016: US gold medal swimmer Lochte, 3 teammates robbed at gunpoint

Michael Phelps edged out old foe Ryan Lochte in a pulsating 200 metres individual medley (IM) showdown at the US Olympic trials on Friday, adding another thrilling chapter to the greatest rivalry in swimming. 
 
The race marked the last time Phelps and Lochte will go head-to-head in an American pool but the two swimming giants, who between them have amassed 33 Olympic medals, could clash one final time on the grandest stage of all, at the Rio Olympics in August. 
 
Phelps, who had already qualified for a fifth US Olympic team, held off his hard charging rival to narrowly get to the wall first in one minute 55.91 seconds, the second fastest swim in the event this year. 
 
But on this night, the time did not matter as much as the result. The two swimmers, who have pushed each other to greatness, looked up at the clock at the end before turning their glances to each other and shaking hands. 
 
&quot;Ryan and I always have great races with one another,&quot; said Phelps. 
 
&quot;Him and I have been racing since 2004 and I think when we race each other we bring each other to a different level. We take each other to that next step,&quot; he was quoted saying.&nbsp; 
 
He also added, &quot;It&#39;s probably the last time people in the US will see that, the two of us race each other. We&#39;ve had a great history in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 free, kind of every race.&quot; 
 
 
The duel in the pool&nbsp; 
 
While there were eight lanes occupied by swimmers all looking to punch their Rio Games tickets, for the soldout crowd at CenturyLink Center this was a match race of the highest order, a duel in the pool between two 31-year-olds who lined up beside each other. 
 
In lane five was Phelps, the winner of a record 22 Olympic medals, who has made the gold medal in the 200 IM his personal property, taking top spot on the podium at the last three Summer Games. 
 
In lane four, Lochte, the winner of 11-Olympic medals and runner-up to Phelps in the 200 IM at the 2004 Athens and 2012 London Games, and the world champion and record holder in the event. 
 
Phelps, who turned 31 on Thursday, as usual went out fast and stayed in front leading after every split bu,t as they turned for home a battling Lochte chased down his rival on the freestyle leg. 
 
Matching each other stroke-for-stroke the crowd of 14,000 now on its feet roaring, Phelps dug a little deeper getting home just 0.31 seconds ahead of his rival. 
 
&quot;I knew going in that this was going to be a dog fight until the end,&quot; said Lochte and added, &quot;I love racing against him. It was kind of a little heartbreaking at the end because after we finished, we gave each other a hug and said good job, but we both knew that was probably the last time me and him were going to race each other on US soil&quot;. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Phelps believes the competition brought out the best in both he and Lochte, who have a combined 33 Olympic medals

Michael Phelps edged out old foe Ryan Lochte in a pulsating 200 metres individual medley (IM) showdown at the US Olympic trials on Friday, adding another thrilling chapter to the greatest rivalry in swimming. The race marked the last time Phelps and Lochte will go head-to-head in an American pool but the two swimming giants, who between them have amassed 33 Olympic medals, could clash one final time on the grandest stage of all, at the Rio Olympics in August. Phelps, who had already qualified for a fifth US Olympic team, held off his hard charging rival to narrowly get to the wall first in one minute 55.91 seconds, the second fastest swim in the event this year. But on this night, the time did not matter as much as the result. The two swimmers, who have pushed each other to greatness, looked up at the clock at the end before turning their glances to each other and shaking hands. "Ryan and I always have great races with one another," said Phelps. "Him and I have been racing since 2004 and I think when we race each other we bring each other to a different level. We take each other to that next step," he was quoted saying. He also added, "It's probably the last time people in the US will see that, the two of us race each other. We've had a great history in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 free, kind of every race." The duel in the pool While there were eight lanes occupied by swimmers all looking to punch their Rio Games tickets, for the soldout crowd at CenturyLink Center this was a match race of the highest order, a duel in the pool between two 31-year-olds who lined up beside each other. In lane five was Phelps, the winner of a record 22 Olympic medals, who has made the gold medal in the 200 IM his personal property, taking top spot on the podium at the last three Summer Games. In lane four, Lochte, the winner of 11-Olympic medals and runner-up to Phelps in the 200 IM at the 2004 Athens and 2012 London Games, and the world champion and record holder in the event. Phelps, who turned 31 on Thursday, as usual went out fast and stayed in front leading after every split bu,t as they turned for home a battling Lochte chased down his rival on the freestyle leg. Matching each other stroke-for-stroke the crowd of 14,000 now on its feet roaring, Phelps dug a little deeper getting home just 0.31 seconds ahead of his rival. "I knew going in that this was going to be a dog fight until the end," said Lochte and added, "I love racing against him. It was kind of a little heartbreaking at the end because after we finished, we gave each other a hug and said good job, but we both knew that was probably the last time me and him were going to race each other on US soil". (Reuters)

In final US showdown, Phelps narrowly outswims his greatest rival at Olympic trials

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