USOC apologizes for unacceptable behavior of swimmers as 2 more leave Rio
After a tumultuous couple of days that included getting pulled off their plane just prior to departure, U.S. swimmers Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger have finally left Rio.
The United States Olympic Committee confirmed Thursday night that after giving their statements to local authorities, the pair were given back their passports and have left Brazil.
Bentz and Conger, along with Ryan Lochte and James Feigen were involved in an incident Sunday which they originally reported as a robbery, but surveillance video and witness interviews provided a different series of events that included the vandalizing of a gas station.
Earlier Thursday, Rio police recommended Lochte and Feigen be indicted for the false reporting of a crime. Lochte has already returned to the United States, while Feigen remains in Rio with his passport being held by authorities.
The USOC has not seen the full statements Conger and Bentz gave to police, but did provide a description of the events of Sunday night.
As we understand it, the four athletes (Bentz, Conger, Feigen and Ryan Lochte) left France House early in the morning of August 14 in a taxi headed to the Olympic Village. They stopped at a gas station to use the restroom, where one of the athletes committed an act of vandalism. An argument ensued between the athletes and two armed gas station security staff, who displayed their weapons, ordered the athletes from their vehicle and demanded the athletes provide a monetary payment. Once the security officials received money from the athletes, the athletes were allowed to leave.
In addition USOC CEO Scott Blackmun condemned the actions of the swimmers involved, and offered an apology to the people of Brazil for the distraction the incident has caused during the games.
"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," Blackmun said in the 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."