Ryan Lochte Officially Charged by Brazilian Police for Filing a False Robbery Report
American swimmer Ryan Lochte isn’t out of the woods just yet. Brazilian police charged the Olympic gold medalist on Thursday for filing a false robbery report involving an incident that took place at a gas station in Rio de Janeiro during the Olympic Games.
Authorities released a statement to The AP explaining that the 32-year-old swimming star, who returned to the United States before police initiated their investigation, would be informed of the charges facing him in Brazil. Additionally, the indictment will be sent to the International Olympic Committee's ethics commission.
Lochte originally claimed that he and three teammates -- Gunnar Bentz, James Feigen and Jack Conger -- were coming home after a night of partying when their taxi was pulled over by men pretending to be Rio police. He said that one of the robbers pointed a gun at his forehead and stole their money.
Later, Lochte altered his story, saying that the group wasn't pulled over but instead, they were robbed at a gas station after having the taxi pull over so they could use the restroom.
Rio police officials claim that the swimmers vandalized the bathroom at the gas station and urinated on the building. According to their report, two gas station security guards were the ones who pointed their gun at the swimmers, demanding monetary payment for the damages.
MORE: 2016 Rio Olympics: The 9 Biggest and Most Scandalous Moments
Bentz, Feigen and Conger were detained by Rio police before heading back to the U.S., and in follow-up statements revealed that they had indeed urinated behind the gas station and that Lochte tore a poster out of a metal frame on a wall before armed security demanded money from them.
All four swimmers have released public statements apologizing for their behavior and for altering or omitting the facts of the incident in earlier statements. Feigen, who was the last to return home and address the incident, said he was ordered to pay a fine of nearly $11,000 to get his passport back so he could return home.
Lochte, who was the first of the swimmers to go public with the story of being robbed at gunpoint, took to Instagram on Friday morning to issue an apology.
"I want to apologize for my behavior last weekend," Lochte wrote. "For not being more careful and candid in how I described the events of that early morning and for my role in taking away from the many athletes fulfilling their dreams of participating in the Olympics."
Lochte also admitted, "I should have been much more responsible in how I handled myself, and for that I am sorry."
WATCH: Ryan Lochte Issues Apology After Alleged Robbery in Rio
In Brazil, the maximum penalty for falsely reporting a crime is 18 months in prison, according to the AP. If Lochte doesn't return to face the charge, he could be tried in absentia.
Check out the video below to hear more about the embattled Olympian's mea culpa.
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