U.S Swimmers Detained By Brazilian Authorities,Orders Seizure of Lochte Passport

Two U.S swimmer has been reportedly detained by the Brazilian government amid questioning over a robbery claim,report said.

Forty Eight hours after Olympic officials issued an apology to four American swimmers who said they were robbed at gun point,Brazilian authorities continue to investigate their claims and sought to prevent them from leaving the country so they could further question them.

Two of the swimmers,Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were pulled off their return flight to U.S by Brazilian authorities late Wednesday at Rio airport,according to U.S Olympic committee.

Police showed up at the Olympic village on Wednesday to seize the passport of Ryan Lochte and Jimmy Feigen but found neither of the swimmers there.Lochte had already returned to the state,according to the police.

"The swim team moved out of the village after the competition ended,"said Patrick Sandusky,a U.S Olympic committee spokesman,who added that "As part of our standard security protocol,we do not make our athlete travel plans public."

Feigen was reportedly still in Brazil,telling his hometown news agency,The San Antonio news-express "I can't talk now."

With all its uncertainties and contradictions the incident has captivated the resident of this city.prompting speculations about what happened in the early hours of Sunday.

Local television has replayed security video obtained by a British newspaper of the swimmers returning to the village shortly before 7:00 am that morning.

Police said they are now scrutinizing additional video from a gas station where the incident allegedly took place.

"I can't comment on contraction in any stories and I can't refute my statement that were given,"Alexander Braga,a special police for tourism support said."this case is very delicate and receives a lot of attentions, we must be very careful. "

U.S Olympic committee quickly contacted Lochte after the news broke out on Sunday who denied that a crime had taken place.the international Olympic committee debunked the rumor that a robbery had taken place,they announced that news report of robbery were "absolutely not true."

But Lochte who won gold medal in 800m freestyle relay last week,subsequently changed his story.

The 12 times medalist said that,after the swimming portion of 2016 summer game ended on Saturday night,he and his teammates went to France house to celebrate.there were questions about when they left,police now believed that the four swimmers departed at 5:45am.

Lotche said they were returning to the village when their taxi was stopped by armed men flashing what appeared to be police badges.


"They pulled out their gun and told the other swimmers to get down on the ground,they got down on the ground Lotche told reporters " I refused,I was like we didn't do anything so I can't get down on the ground."

"And the guy pulled out his gun,he cocked it point it to my forehead and he said "get down"and I put my hands up,I was like whatever."

The U.S Olympic committee was initially cautious,beginning it's new release with the word "according to four U.S Olympic swimming team.

Police who subsequently interviewed the swimmers,have yet to locate the taxi driver. In the main time ,the Rio Olympic organizing  committee  has issued an apology on Monday.

We have requested the security authorities to make sure everybody is safe everywhere in the city,spokesman Mario Andrada said "we apologize for those involved and regret that violence is an issue in this game."

The alleged robbery was merely the latest negative publicity for an Olympic that has suffered through one security concern after another.

Two Australian rowing coaches were in Ipanema and an Olympic security was shot dead after making a wrong turn into favela.the game security chief were attacked by knife welding men as he left maracana stadium after the opening ceremony.

Also stray bullet have landed in the equestrian venue in deodoro on two occasion,and a bus carrying journalist in the area had its windows shattered.Rio officials insisted that thrown rock were to blame.


None of this squared with mayor Eduardo proclamation that his city will be the safest place in the world before the game started.

What seems traditional is for the Brazilian police and bureaucracy to call into questions anyone making accusation,gufstason,a university professor said " they want to say this doesn't happen in Brazil."

But reported contradictions in the swimmers story and unusual details such that robbers didn't take the athlete cell phones and conflicting statement about the number of assailant have continued to puzzle investigators.

"We are currently trying to get all the information that Is available,Braga said."