Emma McKeon and South Australian Josh Palmer banned from closing ceremony after big night out

SA SWIMMER Joshua Palmer and four-time Aussie medallist Emma McKeon have been banned from the Olympics closing ceremony after a night of partying.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 14: Emma McKeon of Australia speaks during a press conference at the Main Press Centre on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

SOUTH Australian swimmer Joshua Palmer and four-time Aussie medallist Emma McKeon have been banned from the Olympics closing ceremony for breaking a team curfew and partying in Rio on Tuesday night.

Palmer said he was robbed of $1000 after being forced to an ATM to withdraw cash, while McKeon did not return to the village and instead stayed with friends in Copacabana without informing team management.

Chef de mission Kitty Chiller disciplined the two swimmers last night and every athlete has now been handed a 2am curfew for the remainder of the Games.

The AOC said a group of swimmers had gone to Copacabana on Tuesday night and while some left the area and returned to the village, and did not break any team rules, Palmer and McKeon had chosen to stay.

McKeon stayed the night with swimming friends in the Copa district without informing team management.

Palmer headed to a beach kiosk with a friend and has told officials that after the friend left, he was approached by a man who forced him to withdraw $1000 in cash from an ATM. The breaststroker was later found by two businessmen. He was disorientated and had lost both his wallet and his phone.

He was taken to the Australian Consulate, where officials contacted the Olympic team’s head of security, Greg Nance.

Nance and swim team leader Wayne Loman travelled to the consulate to collect the South Australian. Palmer then met with Nance and a member of the Australian Federal Police.

He has decided not to make a formal complaint to Rio police about the robbery.

“Palmer and McKeon’s behaviour was unacceptable and they breached disciplinary protocols,” Chiller said. “I have raised the need for the swimming team leader to ensure he is aware of his athlete’s whereabouts when leaving the Olympic Village and that the swimming athletes observe the 2am curfew.

“Swimming management has also decided athletes must advise the team leader of their arrival into the Olympic Village and they must present themselves to a swimming official by 10am.

“Given the security problems we have encountered over the past few weeks, I find the behaviour of the disciplined athletes disrespectful to the remainder of the team.

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“I would like to thank the businessmen who found Josh and delivered him to the Australian Consulate and I appreciate the support given to the Team by Consulate staff”.

The robbery of Palmer comes just days after US swimmer Ryan Lochte claimed he was robbed at gunpoint by “fake” Brazilian police and forced to hand over his wallet.

Brazilian officials dispute the story of Lochte and three teammates, with two swimmers ordered off a plane home to the US yesterday to answer further questions on the allegations.