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Two U.S. swimmers who were with Ryan Lochte taken off flight at Rio airport

RIO DE JANEIRO — Two U.S. swimmers who were with Ryan Lochte the night of an alleged robbery were removed from a flight at a Rio airport on Wednesday night as they tried to leave the country.

Jack Conger during the men's 100 butterfly preliminary heats July 1. (Photo: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports)

RIO DE JANEIRO — Two U.S. swimmers who were with Ryan Lochte the night of an alleged robbery were removed from a flight at a Rio airport on Wednesday night as they tried to leave the country.

Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were taken off their flight departing for the United States by Brazilian authorities, USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said in a statement. He said more information is being gathered.

Conger and Bentz were being questioned by Brazilian authorities, NBC reported. Their flight was scheduled to leave at 9:10 p.m. local time.

When reached by phone at 4 p.m. local time, Bentz said he was at the airport and could not talk. "I have to go,'' he said.

Lochte, Bentz, Conger and Jimmy Feigen said they were robbed at gunpoint early Sunday morning after leaving a party at France House.

A judge ruled earlier Wednesday that Lochte and Feigen were to turn over their passports and remain in Brazil. Lochte is home in the United States.

Judge Keyla Blank said she based her ruling on inconsistencies in the testimony of Lochte and Feigen.

Feigen is in Rio and said he's cooperating with officials. "I’m just trying to give Brazil what they need or what they want and get out of here,'' Feigen told USA TODAY Sports during a telephone interview Wednesday night. "It’s a hassle. But I’m safe, everything’s fine.''

Lochte said he initially did not tell the USOC that he and the other three swimmers were victims of a robbery early Sunday morning "because we were afraid we'd get in trouble."

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