A Brazilian court dropped a criminal case against Ryan Lochte stemming from his Rio Olympic gas-station incident, according to reports.
Lochte was charged with false communication of a crime after he exaggerated his infamous Aug. 15 story after a late-night party during the Games.
The court concluded Thursday that Lochte did not break the law because Rio police initiated the investigation -- after Lochte’s first interview with NBC -- rather than Lochte, according to U.S. and Brazilian media.
“We are pleased that the court has finally dismissed the criminal prosecution against Mr. Lochte, while at the same time, appropriately recognizing that he committed no crime,” Lochte’s attorney said, according to USA Today and NBC’s affiliate in South Florida. “It has been a long year, but in the end, justice prevailed.”
Lochte was suspended 10 months by USA Swimming after the incident. His ban ended June 30. Lochte was entered in a small meet this week but withdrew, reportedly because he was not in race shape.
Lochte previously returned to non-USA Swimming sanctioned competition and is expected to make a run for a fifth Olympic team in 2020.
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