Police stops US swimmers from leaving Brazil

Civil Police issued a statement today (Aug. 18) saying TeamUSA swimmers Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz, who were implicated in a case of alleged false reporting of a crime, will be taken for questioning about the events of last Sunday (14). The athletes said they were robbed by people who identified themselves as police officers.

The statement was issued by the Special Tourist Police (DEAT). Police Chief Alexandre Braga explained that the swimmers must not leave the country and have been subpoenaed to testify by a court on major sporting events.

Braga said that on Wednesday night (Aug. 17), after the police's intelligence efforts, DEAT officers detained the two swimmers when they were about to leave the country.

“They got off the plane and were taken to the Rio de Janeiro International Airport police service by Federal Police,” the police chief said.

“DEAT officers are examining the statements heard so far by investigators and contrasting with other information they are getting,” the note concluded.

Translated by Mayra Borges