American swimmer Ryan Lochte could face jail after being charged over filing false robbery report in Brazil

COPS in Brazil have charged American swimmer Ryan Lochte with filing a false report after he claimed him and his teammates were robbed on a night out during the Olympics in Rio.

A police statement said on Thursday that Lochte, who claimed gold for the USA as part of the 4x200m freestyle relay team at this year’s games,  will be told about the charges in the United States so he can decide whether to introduce a defence in Brazil.

The indictment will also be sent to the International Olympic Committee’s ethics commission.

They said he could face between one and six months behind bars if found guilty.

Lochte initially said that he and fellow swimmers Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen were robbed at gunpoint 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 vandalising a petrol station loo.

The Olympic swimmer, who is ranked second in the world for having the most medals behind Michael Phelps, has since acknowledged he was drunk and his behaviour led to the confrontation with staff.

One police official quoted by Brazilian media said the 32-year-old gold medal-winner risks a jail sentence, though judicial authorities had yet to confirm that.

Cops have recommended that the Olympian be summoned to Rio for questioning.

“Once he is summoned, whether he turns up or not, the penalty is the same: one to six months’ prison,” Rio police official Clemente Braune was quoted as saying by news website .

“If he is summoned and does not turn up to the hearing, the trial will go ahead in the accused’s absence until the final sentence is given.”

Lochte apologised last week for saying that he and three team mates had been mugged on their way back from an all-night party by robbers pretending to be police.

The tale humiliated first the Brazilian hosts of the Games and later Lochte’s own Team USA when cops contested his story.

Top sponsors such as Speedo and Ralph Lauren this week abandoned Lochte.

“I’m taking full responsibility for it,” Lochte said in a TV interview late Saturday night.

“I over-exaggerated that story and if I had never done that, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

Gunnar Bentz, 20, and Jack Conger, 21, left Brazil with their reputation in tatters after being hauled off a plane for questioning as they tried to leave the country.

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