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'Not so bright': How US swim star got himself banned

Infamous US swim star Ryan Lochte has been handed a massive doping ban after incriminating himself with an unbelievably ill-conceived social media post.

Lochte’s troubled path since a late night out in Rio de Janeiro two years ago took another bizarre twist after the US swim star own’s photo saw him hit with a 14-month doping ban.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said in s statement that Lochte was suspended after basically incriminating himself on social media.

The release said on May 24, Lochte posted a picture of himself getting “an intravenous infusion of permitted substances at an infusion clinic in a volume greater than 100 mL in a 12-hour period without a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).”

USADA investigated and found that Lochte did not have a TUE and applied the penalty.

Judging from Lochte’s Instagram photo, he received the disqualifiying infusion at Revival IV Lounge in Gainesville.

The business’ website advertises 15 items on its “IV Menu,” ranging in price from $65 to $175 and offering treatments ranging from basic hydration to allergy relief to alleviating migraines.

It’s unclear which treatment Lochte received.

The post that landed Lochte in hot water. Pic: Instagram
The post that landed Lochte in hot water. Pic: Instagram

USADA announced the penalty on the eve of the Phillips 66 US National Championships, which begin Wednesday in Irvine, California.

Lochte was expected to be a prime contender for a spot on the USA national team that will compete in the Pan Pacific Championships next month and the FINA World Championships next year.

Instead, he will not be able to compete for more than a year — his second major sanction since the 2016 Summer Olympics.

An infamous drunken night out after the conclusion of the swimming competition in Rio landed Lochte and three American teammates in trouble with Brazilian authorities, resulting in worldwide derision for one of the most accomplished swimmers in Olympic history.

The Olympic medallist was at the centre of a huge scandal during the 2016 Rio Games. Pic: Getty
The Olympic medallist was at the centre of a huge scandal during the 2016 Rio Games. Pic: Getty

Teammates Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were detained by Brazilian authorities. Lochte ultimately was given a 10-month suspension by USA Swimming, and many believed it would be the end of his swimming career.

But he returned in 2017 at the US Open, declaring himself wiser and more responsible after fathering a child.

The 33-year-old Lochte moved his training base back to his alma mater, Florida, where he had experienced his greatest success with Gators coach Gregg Troy, and had been swimming well earlier this year.

Lochte was seeded fourth for the 400m individual medley, an event where he won the Olympic gold medal in 2012 and bronze in 2008, and was seeded seventh in the 200 IM, an event where he owns the world record.

Now, he’s out of the competition.

With Yahoo US