Fansided

Following yet another ban, can we trust Ryan Lochte?

By Amy Kaplan

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 12: Ryan Lochte of the United States attends a press conference in the Main Press Center on Day 7 of the Rio Olympics on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 12: Ryan Lochte of the United States attends a press conference in the Main Press Center on Day 7 of the Rio Olympics on August 12, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images) /
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Olympic gold-medalist Ryan Lochte has been banned from competition for 14 months. Can we ever trust him again?

Olympic gold-medalist Ryan Lochte may just have cemented his fate as one of the biggest disappointments in American swimming in yet another cringe-worthy episode.

According to Reuters, Lochte has accepted a 14-month suspension following his use of a “prohibited intravenous infusion” per USADA. The Olympic swimmer apparently posted a photo of himself getting said infusion, and after an investigation, it was found to be against the USADA policy.

You might remember that this isn’t Lochte’s first infraction. During the 2016 Rio Olympics, Lochte and his friends made up a story about being robbed in Rio at gunpoint. The incident drew worldwide attention and Lochte later admitted that he “over-exaggerated” the story leaving a black mark not just on Lochte, but on American Olympians as a whole. He was suspended 10 months for that incident.

This, along with a string of bad behavior sets Lochte up to one of the biggest wastes of potential in Olympic history (perhaps trumped only by Tonya Harding). Lochte should be considered one of the greats if you looked at his record, but unfortunately, no one will be able to look past his blemishes.

“I have never taken a prohibitive substance,” Lochte said during a press conference in Florida on Monday. “I have never attempted to gain any advantage by putting anything illegal in my body. I would never do that; this is very serious to me. … Unfortunately, while the rule is a newer rule and is not widely known as others, I should know better.”

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It would be unfair compare Lochte to some of the greats — like Michael Phelps or Mark Spitz as it would tarnish their reputations just being lumped into the same group as Lochte.

The 12-time medalist will be unable to compete in the national championships as well as the Pan Pacific Championships later this year and next year’s world championships. His chances of competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is in serous question… but do we really want him to represent the United States again?

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