U.S. Olympic Committee issues apology for the behavior of Ryan Lochte, other swimmers

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:13 p.m. ET

Pete Blackburn

The 2016 Olympics are set to close this weekend and the most talked about story from the Games has had nothing to do with any actual games at all. The confusing saga surrounding an alleged armed robbery of Ryan Lochte and three other American swimmers during a night out in Brazil has dominated the news cycle and distracted many from the actual competitions that are still going on.

On Thursday night, United States Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun officially apologized for the swimmers' behavior in Rio.

"The behavior of these athletes is not acceptable, nor does it represent the values of Team USA or the conduct of the vast majority of its members," said Blackmun in a statement. "We will further review the matter, and any potential consequences for the athletes, when we return to the United States.

"On behalf of the United States Olympic Committee, we apologize to our hosts in Rio and the people of Brazil for this distracting ordeal in the midst of what should rightly be a celebration of excellence."

Blackmun also clarified what happened on the night in question, confirming that the four swimmers -- Lochte, James Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger -- committed an act of vandalism at a gas station and were confronted by security guards. Two of those guards pulled their guns on the swimmers and demanded that they pay for the damage they caused at the establishment. Once the swimmers provided a monetary sum they were allowed to leave.

The statement doesn't directly address claims that Lochte fabricated the "robbed at gunpoint" story that was told to the media earlier in the week.

"We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over," Lochte told the media on the morning after the incident. "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 cellphone, he left my credentials."

Video surveillance from the gas station seems to corroborate a good portion of what Lochte said -- the group was pulled out of a taxi by a group of security guards who had them at gunpoint until money was exchanged -- but it's difficult to see whether any officer had a gun to the swimmer's head or took his wallet. Brazilian police insist that no robbery was committed.

After investigating the claims, officials found holes and inconsistencies in the swimmers' testimonies and attempted to hold them in Rio until the investigation concluded. A judge ordered the passports of Lochte and Feigen seized, though Lochte had already left the country before that order was issued. Bentz and Conger were pulled off an airplane heading home on Wednesday night and were detained until they provided clarified statements.

In their revised testimony, Bentz and Conger reportedly said that the story had been fabricated by Lochte. The two then had their passports released and were allowed to leave the country. A lawyer for Feigen said that his client was allowed to leave after agreeing to pay $10,800 to an "institution." Charges are unlikely because, under Brazilian law, a donation can be made to avoid criminal prosecution for minor offenses.

As for Lochte, he has still yet to comment on the ordeal since his departure from Brazil.