US Swimmer Ryan Lochte Charged Over False Robbery Claim

US swimmer Ryan Lochte has been charged with making a false statement to police, after he claimed he had been robbed at gunpoint at the Rio Olympics.

Lochte is to be informed in the US so he can decide whether to introduce a defence in Brazil, according to a police statement.

The indictment will also be sent to the International Olympic Committee's ethics commission.

The 32-year-old had initially said he and three teammates - Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen - had been pulled over in their taxi by gunmen posing as police who then robbed them.

However, the group faced an angry backlash after police accused Lochte of fabricating the story to cover up vandalising a petrol station toilet while drunk.

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Lochte has since apologised to Olympics host Brazil, saying he was "110%" sorry and blaming his immaturity for causing "all this ruckus".

He lost a number of sponsorship deals following the incident, reportedly worth around $1m.