lochte passport ordered to be seized
RIO DE JANEIRO: A Brazilian judge has ordered that the passports of American swimmers Ryan lochte and James Feigen be seized as authorities investigate their claim they were robbed at gunpoint during the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. The office of Judge Keyla Blank confirmed the request Wednesday in a statement, but Rio police did not say whether the order was carried out. lochte and three of his teammates say they were robbed at gunpoint in a taxi Sunday morning as they returned to the athletes village from a party, several hours after the last Olympic swimming events were held. Police have found little evidence so far to support their accounts, and say the swimmers were unable to provide key details in police interviews. A police official with knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press that police cannot find their taxi driver or witnesses. lochte's attorney, Jeff Ostrow, has said there is no question the robbery happened.
Russia stripped of 2008 relay title
RIO DE JANEIRO: Russia was stripped of its 4x100m women's sprint relay title from the 2008 Beijing Olympics after team member Yulia Chermoshanskaya failed a doping re-test. "The Russian Federation team is disqualified from the women's 4x100m relay," the International Olympic Committee said in a statement announcing Chermoshanskaya's failure on Tuesday. Chermoshanskaya, now 30, tested positive for two banned substances after samples from 2008 were re-analysed using more advanced detection techiques. Belgium finished second behind Russia in the 2008 race at Beijing, with Nigeria third and Brazil in fourth position. Agencies