RIO DE JANEIRO – Three American Olympic swimmers planned to meet with Brazilian law enforcement Thursday to discuss a reported robbery targeting 12-time medallist Ryan Lochte and his teammates, a U.S. Olympic Committee official said.
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USOC spokesperson Patrick Sandusky said Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were released by local authorities after being pulled from a flight at the Rio de Janeiro airport, with the understanding that discussions would continue amid uncertainty over what truly took place during a late outing the night Olympic swimming wrapped up at the Rio Games.
READ MORE: 2 US swimmers in Ryan Lochte robbery probe pulled off plane
Fellow teammate Jimmy Feigen also plans to talk to officials, Sandusky said, as he navigates a judge’s order that keeps him in Brazil. The order similarly called for Lochte’s passport to be seized, but the star swimmer had already returned to the United States before authorities could enforce the decision.
WATCH: US swimmers leave Rio police station after questioning over vandalism, alleged robbery
A lawyer for Conger and Bentz said Thursday that they won’t be allowed to leave Brazil until they provide testimony to investigators. The swimmers didn’t speak to reporters as they left the airport, shuttled away by a black car waiting outside. They departed for an unspecified location in Brazil and had yet to testify, said attorney Sergio Viegas.
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Representatives from the U.S. consulate arrived at the airport shortly after the swimmers were stopped from leaving the country.
The action comes amid increasing tension between Brazilian authorities and the American swimmers over the ever-changing account of the robbery. Police say they have found little evidence so far to support the claims, and that the swimmers were unable to provide key details in interviews.
‘The office of Judge Keyla Blanc, who ordered the passports seized, said that there were discrepancies in the statements by the swimmers.
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