An International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesperson told Reuters news service that the IOC was setting up a disciplinary commission for Ryan Lochte and three other U.S. swimmers involved in a lie about an armed robbery.
The Reuters report says that the IOC commission will investigate the incident and decide if the athletes violated the Olympic charter, which could bring sanctions.
Earlier reports said the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and USA Swimming would suspend Lochte, but that report has been denied by officials from both organizations.
Lochte was with Jimmy Feigen, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz early in the morning in Rio when the four stopped at a gas station to use the bathroom. Brazilian police allege the swimmers caused damage to the bathroom, then were involved in an altercation with security guards, who reportedly drew their guns to get the swimmers to pay for the damages.
Lochte claimed in several interviews afterwards that he and the other three had been robbed at gunpoint, even at one time saying the gun was put to his head.
It appears Lochte is currently the swimmer under the most heat, after statements critical of Lochte that supported the innocence of Bentz and Feigen. Bentz released a statement earlier today, claiming that he never lied about the incident and that Lochte was the one who both pulled down a metal advertisement on a wall and yelled at the security guards.
And now, per the Washington Post, a Rio Police officer says Feigen told police he initially lied to protect Lochte. A few excerpts from that story:
Carregosa interviewed Feigen on Thursday night. The swimmer said he had initially lied to protect Ryan Lochte.
“He was very frightened,” Carregosa said. “He said he was very drunk and did not understand things properly. When he realized the day after [what had happened], he looked at the TV and he saw Ryan explaining on the TV.”
…
“He said he wanted to protect Ryan. He was scared of the repercussion,” Carregosa said. “He regretted everything that had happened.”
Carregosa described Lochte as the irresponsible ringleader of what police have described as acts of vandalism. At 32, Lochte was much older than the other three swimmers, who looked up to him, the officer said.
“For these three swimmers, Ryan is a reference, an icon,” he said. “If Ryan says jump of the bridge, they are going to jump. For a lack of maturity and his influence. They are very young.”
He said Feigen’s original testimony was much closer to the version of events that have now emerged, whereas Lochte’s was invented. “His version was pure fantasy,” Carregosa said.
Ryan Lochte is a narcissist and a big turd. That’s all.
This sounds like something someone might write on a bathroom wall. Just make sure you don’t do it in Rio.
Not just a bathroom wall! There’s articles written about his narcissism already! Maybe not the turd part yet but I’m sure that’s coming
I’m sure the people in Rio would make an exception for this one since the majority of them agree with it
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN10V0IO
More bad news. It now appears that Rio prosecutors want to extort about 50 grand from Jimmy. He’s on his way back to the states, so technically Jimmy is now the first known international fugitive from justice for taking a leak in an alley.
Thank God all the guys got out of that place.
Good for them! They got what they deserve, especially Lochte. Shame on them!
I really hate to say this because i used to and maybe still like Ryan lochte, but this is completely his fault. The others may have participated in the actions, but they didn’t blow the story out of proportion on national and international television
The IOC has officially lost ALL credibility in my book if disciplinary action is taken against this. At the very most, USA Swimming should handle it. If state run doping is not enough to force action, this absolutely is not.
Bill, The Brazilian judges should handle it first. 3 years in jail for Lochte would be a good start. Sanctions from the IOC should only be applied after the Brazilian Judiciary deliver justice.
oh get off it… whiny babies, upset because their hero turns out to be even stupider than we thought.
Oh come on get over yourself, he should do three years in jail?! Just stop and think about that for moment….yes that’s right ridiculous.
Is this a joke? Guilty as charged this is a minor misdemeanor.
Oh now they want to punish people huh??? if only lochte had been caught doping instead 🙁
Our kids got to compete and did not appreciate the privilege but the Russian dopers did not get to compete at all though some with past doping did
This seems a little silly to me. I understand that they have to be disciplined for breaking the USA Swimming code of conduct.
However……… I think we have to bring this thing into a “closer-to-home” perspective. Imagine, if you will, that this situation happened in your town/city. Four college-age athletes go to a gas station; they’re drunk and they pee on the back of the station and tear down a poster. They try to leave in a taxi, but as they do security guards request that they get out. They do, and then are asked to pay damages; the athletes refuse, or are confused and don’t. Then the security guards draw their guns and demand payment; the athletes give the… Read more »
The key to your post is the word “Imagine”…..just imagine if 32yr old Ryan Lochte was still in college. Just Imagine if this took place in good ‘ol Texas, just imagine if Brazillian law was the same as US law. Just Imagine if the Brazilians hadn’t invested anything into this gigantic global event, expecting a positive legacy. Just imagine…..it would all be swept under the carpet.
boo
M. Boom.
First problem in your hypothetical question: this didn’t happen in Name Your Town, USA. Context matters.
This happened abroad, at a gathering of all nations to demonstrate sportsmanship and mutual respect, and our representatives not only chose to violate team rules, to get wasted, to break and urinate all over other people’s property, and then try to leave the local workers to clean up their mess and even pay for all the damage they caused.
What is your reaction – no bigs, just toss a $20 bill on the ground and bro up with a cool story for the press? It’s all good to you?
Slightly off topic but
It’s more and more clear watching the nbc coverage that almost all the events are very lightly attended. This has to be a complete economic catastrophe for Brazil (as if they needed another one). On the other hand, while the town and volunteers bust their rumps to drag this dead horse across the finish line, the Brazilian elites seem to be enjoying the home team events like volleyball …..
I just watched a video from I think 1956, men’s 400m dash, Jamaica first gold ever… the stands were PACKED to the gills. Stuffed with spectators. And no massive media sections, just spectators all around.
And then you see the track stuff now and it’s pathetic.