Rio Olympics Committee Accepts Ryan Lochte’s Apology: Read the Statement

Lochte says he wanted to wait to submit his Instagram apology until his teammates were allowed to come home, although after Conger and Bentz’s alleged statements, loyalties seem to be circling the drain. He also states that Lochte, for no reason, vandalized the place by pulling down “a framed metal advertisement that was loosely anchored to the brick wall”.

On Thursday, the USOC apologized “to our hosts in Rio and the people of Brazil” for the swimmers’ unacceptable behaviour and said it would assess any potential consequences for them.

What a shame they have such character faults.

They tracked down witnesses, including three of Lochte’s fellow swimmers at the scene, reviewed surveillance tapes and made a ruling on whether the accounts looked or sounded like a robbery.

“It’s traumatic to be out late with your friends in a foreign country – with a language barrier – and have a stranger point a gun at you…” writes the swimmer.

In the swimmers’ original version of events, Lochte and three fellow swimmers said their taxi was pulled over and they were robbed at gunpoint early in the morning of August 14. Lochte already is back in the U.S.

Police have dismissed this version of events, also releasing CCTV footage that appears to undermine the story.

In his apology, Lochte, 32, described the night as “traumatic”. The four swimmers have all their belongings and are cracking jokes as they pass through the security check. Lochte said one of the men even pointed a gun to his forehead and robbed the men of their cash.

“If this was a Brazilian or it wasn’t the Olympics, no one would have anxious about it”, said Janete Carvalho, 54, an English teacher, said on the streets of downtown Rio.

“I am confident that some video angles have not been shown that would further substantiate my account”.

The International Olympic Committee is to start a disciplinary inquiry into USA swimmer Ryan Lochte and three of his teammates.

Lochte, Bentz and Conger have returned to the United States, but Feigen remains in Brazil. “I regret this situation has drawn attention away from the Olympics, which have been hosted so incredibly well by Brazil and its citizens”.

“I accept responsibility for my role in this happening and have learned some valuable lessons”, he continued. His passport would be released upon providing a receipt.

As for Feigen, his lawyer says he has made an agreement with the court and is donating $10,800 to an “institution”.

The athletes initially refused to stay, but security asked the taxi not to leave.

Feigen is still resolving his charges before returning to the U.S.

The Public Ministry said it was appealing the application of the lower settlement amount, objecting that a judge had decided the amount without prosecutors agreeing to it.