Ryan Lochte to join ‘Dancing With the Stars’ after Rio robbery scandal: Report

U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte has signed on for season 23 of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” multiple sources told Us Weekly.

“Doing DWTS will be great for Ryan’s image!” an insider told the magazine. “He will be able to show America that he’s a good guy who made a mistake. He’s still an Olympic champion! He will be great on the show.”

The news comes after Mr. Lochte, 32, admitted he over exaggerated his initial story about being robbed at gunpoint at a gas station in Rio with fellow swimmers Gunnar Bentz, Jimmy Feigen and Jack Conger.

An in-depth USA Today report, however, appeared to support Mr. Lochte’s later account that he and the swimmers were approached by security guards who flashed badges, pointed guns at them and demanded money. A Brazilian judge now says police might have been hasty in determining the security guards did not commit robbery against the swimmers, USA Today reported.

Still, Mr. Lochte is charged with filing a false police report and may face up to six months in prison and a fine.

The controversy caused Mr. Lochte to lose several of his sponsors, including Speedo, Ralph Lauren, Airweave and Gentle Hair Removal. The CEO of the U.S. Olympics Committee is also looking into additional disciplinary action against the swimmers, Us Weekly said.