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An order has been made to seize American swimmer Ryan Lochte's passport by Brazilian judge after claims he 'lied about being robbed' at the Rio 2016 Olympics - but his lawyer says he is already back in the US.

Earlier today police said they had further questions for the athlete - a 12-time Olympic medallist - about the robbery and found 'little evidence' that it had taken place.

Lochte revealed on Sunday that he was robbed along with Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger, Jimmy Feigen. All were left unharmed.

But police say the swimmers were unable to provide key details in police interviews - and claim they have found contradictions in the swimmers' stories.

They want to speak with both Lochte and Feigen as a matter of urgency.

Brazilian authorities released this statement this afternoon to US website TMZ saying: "Judge Keyla Blanc De Cnop, the Special Court of the Fan and Major Events, ordered the dispatch of search warrants and seizure of passports of American swimmers Ryan Lochte and James Feigen."

"With this, they are prohibited from leaving the country."

However, Jeff Ostrow, Lochte’s attorney, told TMZ the swimmer was back in the US.

He added: "I have no information from Brazilian authorities that they want his passport.

"...I’m shocked to hear that they would go to such measures in an effort to further investigate the incident as he has been nothing but cooperative with authorities, including sitting for a full interview with the Tourist Police, U.S. State Department, USOC Security, FBI, and anyone else that requested to be present."

He also told the NY Post that there was no question the robbery happened and that the swimmer had 24-hour security hired after the incident.

(Image: Instagram/ryanlochte)

“This happened the way he described it,” Ostrow told the NY Post.

Pictures and CCTV have since emerged online of the swimmer returning to the Olympic complex and passing security on the night of the alleged robbery.

Protocol requires that athletes go through a metal detector before entering the village, with athletes putting their belongings in plastic trays.

But images contradict the version of the swimmers and because of this Judge Keyla Blank, the Special Court of the Fan and Major Events banned the athletes from leaving the country.

(Image: AFP/Getty)

There was also a warrant issued for search and seizure to the Olympic Village, where passports would be seized.

“There was no effort to detain anyone, but police did have further questions this morning.

"It is a matter for our consulate and U.S. citizen services and we will continue to cooperate with all involved," USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said in a statement.

Lochte is a prolific medallist, however he also hit the headlines when his dyed hair turned green as it reacted to chemicals in the Olympic pool.

(Image: AFP/Getty)

Last week Lochte described the "terrifying" moment an armed robber held a gun to his head.

The 32-year-old champion was on his way back from a party in Rio when the taxi was held up by crooks pretending to be cops.

Lochte said he had his wallet stolen - but was luckily unharmed by the ordeal.

The 32-year-old, one of America's leading swimmers, called his mum afterwards.

(Image: Twitter/Ryan Lochte)

He told NBC: "I was with a couple swimmers, we got pulled over in our taxi and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge. No lights, no nothing, just a police badge."

"They pulled us over. They pulled out their guns. They told the other swimmers to get down on the ground, they got down on the ground. I refused. I was like 'We didn't do anything wrong so I'm not getting down on the ground.'

But, according to Lochte one of the men then pulled out his gun, cocked it, and put it to his forehead.

And he added: "He said 'get down'. I put my hands up. I was like 'whatever'. He took our money, he took my wallet."

Speaking last week, Lochte told how he wanted to start a family at some point.

(Image: REUTERS)

Speaking to Today.com, he said: “I definitely want a family of my own, and I love kids.

"There’s no doubt in my mind that’s the route I want to take.”

The glitz and glamour of the Olympics is taking place against a backdrop of a city gripped by violence, vice and crime.

Even as billions tuned in to see the action this week, three men – suspected gang members who rule the city’s favela slums – were shot dead by cops in a gun battle in north Rio.

A patrol of the 85,000-strong security forces brought in for the Games were shot at in the Mare favela after taking a “wrong turn”.

And within walking distance of the Olympic Park, where British stars Mo Farah, Greg Rutherford and Jessica Ennis-Hill are taking centre stage, underage girls sell their bodies, in a city with 12,000 sex workers.

An earlier version of the story claimed watches and wallets were seen on CCTV when Ryan Lochte returned to the Olympic village after the alleged robbery. We relied on same footage