Now that smoke has cleared from #LochteGate, highly criticized athlete Ryan Lochte has been officially charged by the Brazillian authorities.
According to The Washington Post, the 32-year-old has been charged with a false crime report after lying about an incident in which Lochte and three other swimmers vandalized a gas station during festivities at the Rio Olympics. Police say Lochte will be summoned to Brazil for the Aug. 14 incident but is allowed to send a lawyer on his behalf. If the latter is followed, Lochte will lose the chance to negotiate a fine before he is given a sentence. If convicted, he can spend one to six months in jail if he returns to Brazil.
Lochte claimed he and fellow athletes James Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were robbed at gunpoint, when in fact, then men were demanded by security to recompensate the gas station for urinating on the property and reportedly breaking a door. After speaking to the TODAY show last week, Lochte apologized for fabricating the story. “I over-exaggerated that story,” Lochte said. “If I had never done that, we would never be in this mess. .. None of this would’ve happened. It was my immature behavior.”
His apology has done little to heal the incident with Lochte losing four of his endorsement deals including Speedo and Ralph Lauren. CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee hinted that there will be more repercussions to follow for Lochte and the other swimmers.