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Lochte loses four endorsements
Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte lost four sponsorship deals Monday -- a major financial hit for the embattled gold medalist stemming from his spurious claim of being robbed at gunpoint in Rio, a story later discredited by Brazilian police.
Washington
Global swimwear brand Speedo and US fashion label Ralph Lauren topped the list of companies that ended their relationships with the 32-year-old Lochte, with the former noting his actions had not reflected the “values” it wished to promote.
Mattress company Airweave and Syneron Candela, the parent company for a laser hair removal system that Lochte promoted, quickly followed suit.
Lochte claimed he and three of his teammates -- all of them gold medal winners in Rio -- were mugged by robbers pretending to be police after a night out, but the story quickly unraveled as new witness testimony and surveillance video surfaced. Police said the group had been detained over the vandalization of a gas station bathroom, apparently led by a drunken Lochte -- a major embarrassment for Team USA, an Olympic swimming powerhouse.
“Speedo USA announces the decision to end its sponsorship of Ryan Lochte,” the company said,“While we have enjoyed a winning relationship with Ryan for over a decade and he has been an important member of the team, we cannot condone behavior that is counter to the company’s values.”
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