Ryan Lochte was already back in the United States when the order came from a Brazilian judge to surrender his passport.
Here is a timeline of how Lochte’s allegations of being robbed at gunpoint escalated into the current situation:
Aug. 13
American swimmers Ryan Lochte, Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen celebrate at the French Olympic team house in the Rodrigo de Freitas area several hours after their last swimming events.
Aug. 14
Lochte alleges thieves posing as police officers hold the swimmers at gunpoint and rob them as they head back to the U.S. Olympic team house in a taxi. He also says they put a gun to his head and took his wallet but left his phone and accreditation.
Lochte posts a statement about the “robbery” on his Instagram account:
Gunnar Bentz also posts a tweet referring to the incident:
The U.S. Olympic Committee releases a statement confirming that Lochte and the three other swimmers have been robbed. A member of the IOC originally denies the story before apologizing, saying he was relying on wrong information.
Aug. 15
Police officials begin to investigate the incident and interview both Lochte and Feigen.
Aug. 16
Police investigating the incident announce they have found a severe lack of evidence supporting the robbery. A police official says Lochte and Feigen told the officers conflicting information, including how many thieves were present. The swimmers also could not remember the colour or type of taxi and said they were intoxicated.
Lochte hires 24-hour security and does not leave his hotel, according to his attorney Jeff Ostrow.
Aug. 17
A Brazil judge orders that Lochte and Feigen surrender their passports as they continue to investigate their claims. However, the American swimmers have already moved out of the athletes’ village before police arrive.
Lochte’s father then confirms that Lochte is already back in the United States, while Feigen’s location cannot be confirmed by USA Swimming.
An official says that police cannot find the swimmers’ taxi driver or any witnesses. Authorities also say that the group of swimmers did not call the police, and the investigation started only after the first media reports.
Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz, two swimming teammates of Lochte's, were pulled off their night time flight out of Rio and detained by police.
A lawyer for the two athletes later said the pair will not be allowed to leave Brazil until they provide testimony to local investigators.
Aug. 18
Brazilian police hold a news conference to say that Lochte and his teammates were not robbed.
Police say that security footage and interviews with witnesses showed that the athletes were intoxicated and had instead vandalized a gas station bathroom, breaking a door, a soap dispenser and a mirror. The swimmers were confronted by security guards before they apparently paid for the damage and left, police say.
Police also say that at least one of the swimmers who were questioned by police confirmed that version of events.
Aug. 19
Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz are allowed to leave Brazil after being pulled off an outgoing plane on Aug. 17 to testify.
Jimmy Feigen is also allowed to leave Brazil after making a deal with a judge and, according to his lawyer, making a $10,800 donation to an “institution.” In Brazil, donations are accepted to avoid prosecution for minor offences.
Ryan Lochte releases an apology on Instagram for not being more careful about how he described the events of that night. He also apologized for taking the focus away from other athletes participating in the Olympics.
