ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Olympic Swimmers Ordered To Stay In Brazil After Gunpoint Testimony Questioned

Olympic Swimmers Ordered To Stay In Brazil After Gunpoint Testimony Questioned

Ryan Lochte and James Feigen are not supposed to leave Brazil, but Lochte has already ignored that.

James Dawson

James Dawson

Nathan Adrian, James Feigen, Anthony Ervin and Ryan Lochte, left to right, competing in 2013. Credit: PA.

Ryan Lochte and James Feigen are not be allowed to leave Brazil after police questioned evidence given in a robbery case, with a judge ordering them to remain in the country until they are questioned further by police, the Independent has reported. However, Lochte made his escape before the court hearing and so is now back home.

Lochte will not be allowed to leave Brazil just yet. Credit: PA

Lochte, Feigen and two other members of the American swimming team - Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger - claim they were held up at gunpoint in a taxi in Rio.

According to the swimmers' accounts, thieves pretending to be armed police officers stopped the taxi and demanded that they relinquish personal belongings.

Lochte told NBC: "We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a police badge, no lights, no nothing - just a police badge and they pulled us over.

"They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground. They got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didn't do anything wrong, so I'm not getting down on the ground."

"And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, 'Get down', and I put my hands up. I was like 'whatever.' He took our money, he took my wallet - he left my cell phone, he left my credentials."

But police have said they have found little evidence supporting the account and that the swimmers were unable to come up with key details about the incident in police interviews.

A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity as the case is on-going, told the Associated Press that police cannot find the taxi driver in question or witnesses.

Jeff Ostrow, Lochte's attorney, said the swimmer had employed 24-hour security following the incident and there was no question the robbery occurred.

Words by James Dawson

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: olympics, robbery, rio 2016