Members of the U.S. Olympic swimming team fabricated their story about being robbed at gunpoint and got into an altercation with security guards at a gas station in Barra da Tijuca, the section of Rio de Janeiro where the Olympic Park is located, Brazilian police said.

Ryan Lochte, James Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger reported having been robbed at gunpoint in the wee hours of Sunday by men wearing police uniforms.

But the investigation shows the robbery never occurred, Civil Police Chief Fernando Veloso told Rio de Janeiro daily O Globo, which reported that security guards intervened after the inebriated athletes vandalized a restroom at the gas station and refused to pay for the damage.

Brazilian authorities on Wednesday barred three of the swimmers from leaving the country, although Lochte had already returned home.

On Wednesday night, Bentz and Conger had made their way through customs but were prevented from boarding a plane bound for the United States.

The athletes then refused to answer questions during the four hours they spent at a police station at Rio’s international airport and were subsequently taken to a nearby hotel.

“My clients were forcibly taken to give a statement, which is an aberration of justice. But what’s most shocking is the retention of their passports,” the swimmers’ attorney, Sergio Guerra, said.

“They were very frightened and did not understand why they were prevented from boarding” the aircraft, he added.

Gaps in the athletes’ stories and video footage showing them arriving at the Olympic Village in good spirits and in possession of their personal belongings hours after the alleged robbery led Brazilian police to investigate the veracity of their claims.

In statements to reporters, Mario Andrada, chief spokesman for the Rio 2016 organizing committee, appeared to rule out the armed robbery story but downplayed the severity of the situation.

“I understand this issue is under investigation. Let’s give these kids a break. They made a mistake. It’s part of life. Life goes on.”

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 18 (EFE)