The United
States Olympic Committee has apologized for what it called the unacceptable
behaviour of four US swimmers who falsely said they had been robbed at gunpoint
in Rio. Police questioned three of the gold medal winners and say "they
were
not victims of the crimes they claimed".
Ryan Lochte
had initially said he and 3 other US swimmers James Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and
Jack Conger were robbed at gunpoint when they were returning by taxi from a
club. But Rio's civil police head Fernando Veloso refuted the claims, saying
the 4 Olympic gold medalists had not been robbed.
"No
robbery was committed against these athletes. They were not victims of the
crimes they claimed,'' he said.
He told
reporters that one or more of the athletes had instead vandalized a toilet in a
petrol station and then offered to pay for the damage. The Americans paid and
left after armed security guards intervened, he said.
According to
the police chief, one guard had justifiably drawn his gun out after one of the
swimmers began behaving erratically.
The United
States Olympic Committee, after agreeing with The Rio Police version of events,
rather than Swimmer Ryan Lochte's continual stance that he was robbed, has
issued an apology for the incident.
“As we
understand it, the four athletes (Bentz, Conger, Feigen and Ryan Lochte) left
France House early in the morning of August 14 in a taxi headed to the Olympic
Village,” the USOC statement said.
“They stopped at a gas station to use the
restroom, where one of the athletes committed an act of vandalism. An argument
ensued 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. Once the security officials received
money from the athletes, the athletes were allowed to leave.”
"The
behavior of these athletes is not acceptable, nor does it represent the values
of Team USA or the conduct of the vast majority of its members. We will further
review the matter, and any potential consequences for the athletes, when we
return to the United States," said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun.
On behalf of
the United States Olympic Committee, we apologize 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."
USA Swimming’s
executive director Chuck Weigus also released a statement on Thursday,
attacking “lapses in judgement” on the part of the swimmers.
“The last five
days have been difficult for our USA Swimming and United States Olympic
families, While we are thankful our athletes are safe we do not condone the
lapses in judgement and conduct that led us to this point,” said Weigus in a
statement. It is not representative of what is expected as Olympians, as
Americans, as swimmers and as individuals.
This drawing attention away from
Team USA”s incredible accomplishments in the water and by other athletes across
the Olympic Games is upsetting.”
While it is
possible that criminal charges might be sought against one or more of the
athletes, it is unlikely at this point, Civil Police chief Fernando Veloso
said. (LIB)
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