Ryan Lochte has been charged by Rio authorities, report says

U.S. Swim Team member Ryan Lochte has been charged with making a false statement following his story about being robbed at gunpoint during the Olympics, according to The Associated Press.

The news comes after an independent report has raised questions about whether police there exaggerated their report of what went down in Rio.

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According to The Associated Press, police said in a statement that the indictment will be sent to the International Olympic Committee's ethics commission. It also said Lochte would be informed of the charge in the U.S. so may decide whether to appear in Brazilian court.

ABC News reported that, in a statement, Jeffrey Ostrow, Lochte's lawyer, said that he "wasn't aware of "the federal police recommending charges for filing a false police report."

"I'm endeavoring to obtain more information and we intend to fully cooperate with the government as we have all along," Ostrow told USA Today.

In the aftermath of the incident, Lochte lost four sponsorships in one day.

Falsely filing a crime report in Brazil is punishable by of 18 months in prison. If Lochte does not show up to face the charge, he may be tried in absentia.

Continue following this story at The Associated Press.

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