A British athlete was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday morning after a night of partying in Rio, according to a report by The Guardian.
The unidentified athlete was returning to their accommodation when the alleged attack happened. According to the report, the athlete was in shock but not seriously hurt as a result of the incident.
According to an email obtained by The Guardian, British athletes have been warned not to leave the athlete village wearing their Olympic team gear for fears they could be targeted by attackers. The email reportedly advises athletes to avoid leaving the area around the athlete village at night, not to wear their Team GB apparel outside of the village and not to take taxis as a form of transportation.
“Rio is NOT a safe environment, and the level of crime has spiked in the last few days,” read a portion of the letter, according to the report.
“Think very carefully about whether it is worth the risk of leaving the village to celebrate after you have finished competing – BOA/UKA staff cannot guarantee your safety when away from the village/British School/British House. Our strong advice is that it is simply not worth the risk given the current climate in Rio.”
The British Olympic Team has confirmed one of its athlete’s was robbed as a result of The Guardian story, but would not comment on the matter further.
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The incident comes on the heels of controversy surrounding U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte, who claimed he and three other teammates were the victims of an armed robbery on Sunday.
Originally, Lochte and his teammates claimed they were returning to the athlete village by taxi early Sunday morning after a night out at the French Olympic team’s hospitality house when armed men claiming to be police stole his money and wallet.
However, on Thursday, Brazilian police officials told the Associated Press that Lochte made up the story after the swimmers were involved in an altercation at the gas station.
According to the official, one of the swimmers tried but failed to open the door of an outside bathroom. A few of the swimmers then pushed on the door and broke it. A security guard appeared and confronted them.
READ MORE: Brazilian officials now say Ryan Lochte made up the story about that armed robbery
The official says the guard was armed with a pistol, but he never took it out or pointed it at the swimmers.
The official says that swimmers Conger and Bentz, who were pulled off a plane going back to the United States late Wednesday, told police that the robbery story had been fabricated.
– With files from The Associated Press
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