US Olympic Committee apologises to people of Brazil over Ryan Lochte saga

THE US Olympic Committee has apologised to the people of Brazil for the behaviour of Ryan Lochte and his teammates and retracted claims they were robbed at gunpoint.

Doubts have been cast on US swimmer Ryan Lochte’s story he was robbed at gunpoint in Rio.

THE US Olympic Committee has issued a grovelling apology to the people of Rio for embarrassing their country over the Ryan Lochte affair.

In an international embarrassment for the US Olympic team, Brazilian police mounted a case against the swimmers yesterday, using CCTV footage to claim the four had sensationally made up the story about being robbed at gunpoint to cover up a messy night out that saw them vandalise a service station bathroom.

CCTV shows Lochte and teammates at the gas station.

Brazilian authorities claimed the team had “stained” the city of Rio, taking advantage of well-publicised crime rates to cover up their own bad behaviour.

Police alleged there was an altercation with an armed security guard who worked at the station — not at armed robber.

The guard did however point the gun at the swimmers.

After staying silent all day while swimmers were interviewed by police, the US Olympic committee issued a statement just before midnight local time to concede one of the swimmers had vandalised the rest room.

“An argument ensured between the athletes and two armed gas station security staff, who displayed their weapons, ordered the athletes from their vehicle and demanded the athletes provide a monetary payment,” the statement said.

“Once the security officials received money from the athletes, the athletes were allowed to leave.”

US Olympic swimmers Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger leave the police headquarters at Rio de Janeiro

The statement said the behaviour was “not acceptable” and “potential consequences” for the athletes would be reviewed on return to the US.

“On behalf of the USOC we apologise to our hosts in Rio and the people of Brazil for this distracting ordeal in the midst of what should rightly be a celebration of excellence.”

There were also reports the swimmers, some of whom have girlfriends, had earlier been spotted with women, although this was not seen on the CCTV.

The bizarre story has shifted several times over the past days, beginning when Lochte told his mother he had been robbed at gunpoint.

His mother told a Fox Sports reporter, with the swimmers initially claiming they were robbed at gun point by police.

Even yesterday, when the police alleged they had fabricated their account, sources close to the swimmers briefed that there was a missing three minutes in the footage which would support Lochte’s version of the story.

Police are reviewing the footage as part of their investigation.

Police last night recommended indictments against Lochte and team mate Jimmy Feigen for false reporting of crime, but the indictments were not issued.

Two other team mates, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger, were jeered by Brazilian locals, labelled “liars”, as they left a local police station without charge.

The swimmers flew home to the United States last night.

Originally published as US Olympic Committee apologises to people of Brazil over Ryan Lochte saga