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BSP-07
SWIM-USA-LOCHTE
Lochte to swim at US nationals after 14-month ban
SAN FRANCISCO, July 26, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Six-time Olympic swimming gold
medalist Ryan Lochte, fresh off a 14-month suspension, will make his return
to competition at next week’s American national championships, USA Swimming
announced Thursday.
Lochte, who has 12 Olympic medals overall to make him the most decorated
active American swimmer, will take part in six events at the five-day meet
which begins Wednesday in Palo Alto, California.
Lochte, 34, has served two bans since claiming his most recent Olympic
crown in 2016 at Rio as a member of his fourth consecutive 4x200m US
freestyle relay championship lineup.
His claim to have been robbed by armed men aroused an international
controversy and led to a 10-month ban in 2016 and 2017.
Then he received a 14-month suspension from the US Anti-Doping Agency after
a prohibited intravenous infusion, caught after using social media to hype
the infusion. That ban ended this week.
Lochte finished in 10th place on this year’s edition of the US television
reality show competition Celebrity Big Brother. He has also sought treatment
for alcohol addiction during his most recent suspension.
Lochte, who would turn 36 during next year’s Tokyo Olympics, also won
Olympic gold in the 200 backstroke in 2008 at Beijing and 400 individual
medley in 2012 at London.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0857 hrs