(ATR) A judge ordered two gold medal-winning U.S. swimmers to remain in Brazil, but Ryan Lochte and James Feigen had already left the Olympic Village before local police arrived.
Both had complained of being robbed at gunpoint after attending a party in Rio’s South Zone early Sunday morning, but local police have doubts about the incident and are seeking more evidence.
USOC would not comment on Lochte and Feigen’s whereabouts, but Lochte’s lawyer, Jeff Ostrow, told TMZ that the swimmer is "safely back in the United States." Feigen’s whereabouts are not known.
"Local police arrived at the Olympic Village this a.m. and asked to meet with Ryan Lochte and James Feigen and collect their passports in order to secure further testimony from the athletes," said USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky in a prepared statement. "The swim team moved out of the village after their competition ended, so we were not able to make the athletes available.
"Additionally, as part of our standard security protocol, we do not make athlete travel plans public and therefore cannot confirm the athletes’ current location. We will continue to cooperate with Brazilian authorities."
Lochte had told NBC’s Today Show that the taxi they were riding in was pulled over and men flashing police badges robbed them at gunpoint after leaving the French hospitality house in Rodrigo de Fritas.
Lochte won gold in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay, while Feigen won gold in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay.
Written by Bob Mackinin Rio de Janeiro
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