Ryan Lochte charged with filing a false robbery report at the Rio Olympics... and could face SIX MONTHS in jail if he is found guilty of lying to Brazilian police  

  • Ryan Lochte charged by Brazilian police over Rio fake robbery scandal 
  • The swimmer was charged on Thursday with filing a false police report 
  • If found guilty, Lochte could face as long as six months behind bars
  • Police have asked for a summons to be issued for the 32-year-old

By Associated Press and Liam Quinn For Dailymail.com

Published: 16:53 EST, 25 August 2016 | Updated: 20:29 EST, 25 August 2016

Ryan Lochte has been charged by Brazilian police over the fake robbery scandal at the Rio Games.

Police charged the American swimmer with filing a false report over an alleged incident during the Olympics earlier this month, when the 32-year-old said he was robbed at gunpoint with teammates after a night out.  

Clemente Braune, a commissioner with the Special Tourist Police in Rio, said police have asked for a summons to be issued for Lochte, however the 12-time Olympic medalist can opt to send a lawyer and avoid answering questions himself in court. 

If he is found guilty, Lochte could face up to six months in prison.

Ryan Lochte could face six months in prison after he was charged by Brazilian police over the fake robbery scandal at the Rio Games 

Ryan Lochte could face six months in prison after he was charged by Brazilian police over the fake robbery scandal at the Rio Games 

Braune added the American could yet be sued by the gas station owner for the damage, both in civil and criminal court. 

A crime with a maximum sentence of six months is not serious enough to be the subject of extradition, with the U.S.-Brazilian treaty for extradition covering only serious alleged crimes.

However the Brazilian authorities could make it almost impossible for Lochte to leave the U.S. by placing a red 'wanted' alert on his passport through Interpol, meaning that he would be arrested if he entered a country which has a treaty with Brazil which would allow extradition for false statement allegations.

It comes after Lochte said he exaggerated the claim he was robbed at gunpoint, after initially saying he and fellow swimmers Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen were held up in a taxi by men with a police badge as they returned to the Olympic Village from a party. 

However, security video suggested the four actually faced security guards after vandalizing a gas station restroom.

Local authorities say the guards had guns drawn and took money from the swimmers to cover the cost of damage they had done. 

Police charged the American swimmer (pictured arriving home on August 20) with filing a false report over an alleged incident during the Olympics earlier this month

Police charged the American swimmer (pictured arriving home on August 20) with filing a false report over an alleged incident during the Olympics earlier this month

Security footage appeared to show Lochte and the other swimmers vandalizing a service station, where security guards allegedly pulled guns on them

Security footage appeared to show Lochte and the other swimmers vandalizing a service station, where security guards allegedly pulled guns on them

Lochte has since acknowledged he was highly intoxicated and his behavior led to the confrontation. 

Jimmy Feigen, the other swimmer who has admitted to lying to police, is free from any further action having paid a fine of $10,000 to settle the charges that allowed him to leave the country.

The other two swimmers who were present that night, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger, have been cleared of any wrong doing. 

News of the charges comes after the swimmer lost sponsorship deals with Speedo and Ralph Lauren after the controversy.

Lochte issued an apology on social media for his behavior during the scandal, and said he needed to be more 'candid' in how he described the incident

Lochte issued an apology on social media for his behavior during the scandal, and said he needed to be more 'candid' in how he described the incident

A statement from his former sponsor read: 'Speedo USA today announces the decision to end its sponsorship of Ryan Lochte. 

'As part of this decision, Speedo USA will donate a 50,000 US dollars portion of Lochte's fee to Save The Children, a global charity partner of Speedo USA's parent company, for children in Brazil.

'While we have enjoyed a winning relationship with Ryan for over a decade and he has been an important member of the Speedo team, we cannot condone behavior that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for.

'We appreciate his many achievements and hope he moves forward and learns from this experience.'

Olympic swimmers Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger leave the police headquarters at International departures of Rio de Janiero's Galeo International airport

Olympic swimmers Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger leave the police headquarters at International departures of Rio de Janiero's Galeo International airport

 Lochte has lost a number of sponsors since the scandal, including Speedo and Ralph Lauren

 Lochte has lost a number of sponsors since the scandal, including Speedo and Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren followed Speedo just hours after the swimwear brand dropped the Olympian, declaring the company would not be renewing Lochte's contract.

Lochte was part of the USA's gold medal-winning 4x200 metres freestyle relay team for the fourth Olympics in succession, adding to further golds in the 400m individual medley at London 2012 and the 200m backstroke at Beijing 2008.

He also won 200m medley silver in Athens in 2004, 200m and 400m medley bronze medals in Beijing and two silvers and a bronze in London.

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