Ryan Lochte Banned
American swimmer Ryan Lochte will be suspended from his sport for 10 months following his involvement over the scandal he created in Rio.
The suspensions were issued by the United States Olympic Committee and US Swimming, the national governing body for the sport.
The punishment was the result of the 12-time Olympic medalist swimmer’s controversial involvement in a gas station incident during the Olympics.
Lochte is also banned from the 2017 world swimming championships and will not compete in another world championship until summer 2019.
False Police Report
Lochte and other three swimmers, Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen were under Brazil’s scrutiny when they were involved in the gas station incident. It came after a night of partying following the end of the Olympic swimming competition.
Lochte said they were being robbed and a gun was pointed against his forehead. The incident alarmed the Rio authorities and they started a thorough investigation. The result of the probe did not match Lochte’s tale of the incident. The result made headlines as the Brazilian authorities accused the swimmers of filing a false police report.
CNN reports say the police investigation ruled out that the swimmers were stopped by security guards at the gas station. Instead, they committed an act of vandalism. They were made to pay $50 in damages.
The investigation began after Lochte had returned to the United States. Bentz and Conger were first pulled off their planes for further questioning before they left the country.
The Consequences
Following the Rio scandal, Lochte has been vocal, saying he was sorry for the incident and publicly apologized for his misdemeanor. He said the international Olympic scandal was his fault and caused by his “immature behavior.”
“I over-exaggerated that story and if I had never done that we wouldn’t be in this mess,” he told NBC’s Matt Lauer.
The aftermath of the Rio scandal has affected Lochte’s sponsorship deals as well. Speedo, Polo Ralph Lauren, Gentle Hair Removal and mattress maker Airweave are saying they would be cutting ties with Lochte after the Rio scandal.
But not all are closing their doors on Lochte. The swimmer has gained new sponsorships from Pine Bros. cough drops and Robocopp, a crime prevention device maker.
Aside from that, a career in show business awaits Lochne. He scored a slot on Season 23 of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.”
