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Lochte Fallout: Endorsement Deals Cut After Swimmer’s Lies Exposed in Rio

© AP Photo / Michael SohnStory Sinks: US Swimmer Lochte Lied About Robbery to Hide ‘Drunken’ Vandalism
Story Sinks: US Swimmer Lochte Lied About Robbery to Hide ‘Drunken’ Vandalism - Sputnik International
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On Monday, it was announced that both Speedo and Ralph Lauren will be dropping endorsement deals with US Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte over a false robbery claim he made after a night of heavy drinking in Rio.

In Speedo’s statement about the end of their sponsorship, the company announced that they will be donating Lochte’s $50,000 fee to Save the Children, a global charity partner. In turn, the organization will direct the funds to specifically assist Brazil youth.

“While we have enjoyed a winning relationship with Ryan for over a decade and he has been an important member of the Speedo team, we cannot condone behavior that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for,” the swimwear company stated. “We appreciate his many achievements and hope he moves forward and learns from this experience.”

Following the press release from Speedo, Lochte took to Twitter to respond.

"I respect Speedo's decision and am grateful for the opportunities that our partnership has afforded me over the years," he wrote. "I am proud of the accomplishments that we have achieved together."

Only a few hours later, Ralph Lauren followed Speedo’s lead and also dropped the swimmer. Lochte’s name and image was immediately removed from the Olympic-endorser page on their website.

The announcements leave Lochte with two remaining sponsorships — Gentle Hair Removal and Airweave, a Japanese mattress company.

U.S. Olympic swimmers Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger walk to the airport police station office at Rio's international airport in this still frame taken from video dated August 17, 2016, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. - Sputnik International
US Olympic Swimmers Pulled Off Flight Home Amid Robbery Investigation
Airweave has promised to stand by him, but Gentle Hair Removal has stated that they will “reserve decisions until we have a more complete understanding of the situation.” 

Lochte made international headlines last week after claiming that he and three of his teammates were robbed at gunpoint in the Olympic host country.

Authorities immediately questioned his story, however, and ultimately concluded that Lochte and his fellow swimmers had vandalized a gas station and that the “robber” was actually a security guard, who demanded that they pay for the damages they caused.

Lochte has since admitted that he “over-exaggerated” what had happened.

"It was still hours after the incident happened. I was still intoxicated. I’m not making an excuse, I’m not doing that at all, and I shouldn’t have said that. I over-exaggerated that part, and the gun was drawn but not at my forehead. It was towards my general direction as you can see in the surveillance video," Lochte told NBC in an interview which aired on Saturday.’’

In a statement issued on Thursday, the US Olympic Committee apologized for the actions of the US Olympic swimmers, acknowledging that they had not been robbed.

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