Disgraced Team USA swimmer Ryan Lochte accepted the ruling Thursday by the International Olympic Committee, the US Olympic Committee, and USA Swimming with regard to his made-up story about being robbed at gunpoint outside of a gas station during the Rio Olympics.
The 32 year-old gold medalist agreed to a 10-month ban which, according to The Daily Mail, will leave him “ineligible for world championships in Budapest in July, 2017, as he won’t able to qualify for them at nationals the previous month. He’ll get no monthly funding from either organization, can’t access USOC training centers, must perform 20 hours of community service and will miss Team USA’s post-Olympics trip to the White House.”
Lochte will also be handing over the USOC $25,000 bonus given to Olympic gold-medal winners, and the USA Swimming bonus of $75,000 given to gold-medal winners as well. On top of that $100,000 out the door, it is speculated that he’s already lost over a million dollars in sponsorships after Speedo, Ralph Lauren, and others dropped him from their ad campaigns.
Despite all the bad press, Lochte maintains an active presence on social media and will be appearing on the upcoming season of “Dancing with the Stars.”
USA Swimming executive director Chuck Wielgus weighed in on the situation, telling reporters, “When Code of Conduct infractions occur, it’s our responsibility to take action that reflects the seriousness of what happened. Unfortunately, this story line took attention away from the athletes who deserved it the most.”
Click below for the infamous interview the day after the gas station incident where a still-drunk Lochte makes up the story to Billy Bush:
Exit duet by pop-duo, Lochte and Lauer: