Robbed in Rio: Ryan Lochte held at gunpoint, IOC denies incident

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- While Ryan Lochte's mother says her son was robbed at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro, the International Olympic Committee says it didn't happen.

Lleana Lochte told USA TODAY's Rachel Axon that her son was robbed Sunday morning.

According to multiple reports, Lochte was invited to a party by Brazilian swimmer Thiago Pereira. After his cab stopped for gas, a group of people carrying guns and knives held his group up.

He called his mother immediately after the event.

"I think they're all shaken up," Lleana Lochte told Axon. "There were a few of them," Ileana Lochte said. "No, they were just, they just took their wallets and basically that was it."

IOC spokesman Mark Adams told Axon that the reports are "absolutely not true."

Pereira's spokesman, Flavio Perez, also confirmed the incident to the Washington Post. Cindy Boren and Dom Phillips reported that the taxi was leaving Club France on the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon. Lochte was seen partying in Snapchat videos released that night.

"Thiago Pereira and his wife Gabriela Pauletti were in Club France, the French house in Brazil, and they were celebrating the birthday of a friend in common," Perez told the Post. "Lochte was also in the same place, commemorating the same birthday. Ryan and Thiago are friends. Thiago and his wife left earlier, they left alone, the two of them. Thiago and his wife went back to their hotel. Then Thiago, on finding out what happened, called Ryan. Ryan is well, and Thiago said that the robbery, according to Ryan, was in the taxi. The taxi was robbed."

Lochte returned to the USA swimming base "unharmed" and "safe," according to FOX's Ben Way.

Lochte has 12 Olympic medals.