American swimmer Ryan Lochte was handed a 10-month ban on Wednesday after making false accusations of being robbed in Rio de Janiero and vandalising a gas station during last month's Olympics, according to several media reports. The punishment was handed down by the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee and USA Swimming, according to the reports.
With the ban, Lochte will miss the 2017 World Championship meet, which will be held in Budapest next July. Lochte's suspension is longer than that of the other three US swimmers Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen, who were present at the gas station that night.
On August 14, during the Rio Olympics, the 32-year-old swimmer had told the Brazilian police that he and three other swimmers were robbed at gunpoint. However, after going through video footage, the Brazilian police confirmed that no such crime took place and that Lochte vandalised a gas station while returning to the Olympic village drunk after a party. Lochte later admitted that he was drunk and apologised for the false claims.
