RIO DE JANEIRO – The International Olympic Committee will investigate the incident involving Ryan Lochte and three other U.S. swimmers, and could issue sanctions if wrongdoing is found.
The disciplinary commission for Lochte, Jimmy Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger will “investigate and hear all sides,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said Friday evening. It wasn’t immediately known if a hearing date has been set.
The Olympic Charter allows for athletes to be disciplined “in the case of any violation of the Olympic Charter … or of any applicable public law or regulation, or in case of any form of misbehavior.” Potential sanctions range from a reprimand to the four being stripped of medals won here.
Lochte, Conger and Bentz all won gold as part of the 4x200 freestyle relay. Feigen won gold as part of the 4x100 freestyle relay.
The IOC’s move came hours after Lochte issued an apology, saying he was sorry for not being “more careful and candid” in how he described what happened early Sunday. Though Lochte’s attorney still insists the 12-time Olympic medalist and his teammates were robbed at gunpoint by men who appeared to be police officers, Lochte’s account changed.
Police announced Thursday that their investigation found the swimmers were not the victims of a robbery.
The swimmers' accusations were an embarrassment for Rio officials, and police quickly began questioning Lochte’s claims. A Brazilian judge on Wednesday ordered Lochte and Feigen to surrender their passports and not leave the country while it was determined whether the Americans had made a false police report.
Bentz and Conger were pulled off a plan to the United States that evening so they could be questioned.
Lochte had already left Rio when the judge’s order was issued. Bentz and Conger were allowed to leave Thursday night after meeting with authorities. Feigen promised to make a $10,800 payment to a charity as restitution, and was expected to get his passport back.
