Rio police charge Ryan Lochte with filing false robbery report

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

Allyssa Lee

Brazilian police have charged Ryan Lochte with filing a false robbery report Thursday over his claim that he and three fellow U.S. swimmers were robbed at gunpoint at a Rio de Janeiro gas station during the Summer Olympics.

The indictment will be sent to the International Olympic Committee's ethics commission, and a police statement says Lochte will be informed in the United States so he can decide whether to introduce a defense in Brazil, the Associated Press reports.

Fox News reported earlier on Thursday that the 12-time Olympic medalist will be summoned to give testimony in front of Brazil's Justice Department during the ongoing investigation into the incident.

Fox News reports that there is no penalty if Lochte doesn't appear in front of the Justice Department, but that the swimmer will not be able to engage in a plea deal if he is not present.

Lochte, who returned to the United States last week, has since apologized for "overexaggerating" the events of that night.