Ryan Lochte Suspended After Instagram Post Outs Him For Doping Violation

14-month ban


Article heading image for Ryan Lochte Suspended After Instagram Post Outs Him For Doping Violation

AAP

Swimmer Ryan Lochte has been handed a 14-month ban after a social media post outed him for a doping violation.

The 33-year-old has been under investigation since May, when officials noticed a photo on his personal Instagram account showing Lochte hooked to an IV bag.

While it wasn't the contents of the drip that resulted in the suspension - athletes commonly take vitamin infusions and supplements - the Olympian had exceeded the sanctioned limit of 100 millilitres every 12 hours.

Instagram

The 14-month ban, which was retroactively dated to when he received the infusion on May 24, means Lochte has been ruled out of competing at the National Championships in California.

It's the second time the swimmer has been penalised in less than two years; Lochte was suspended for 10 months after lying about being held up at gunpoint at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

At the time, he and three other swimmers on the US team claimed to have been robbed at a petrol station by armed men pretending to be police.

But the four men changed their story several times and were eventually accused of destroying a bathroom at the servo after a night of celebrations in Rio de Janeiro.

24 July 2018




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