A Kiwi athlete in Rio says he was kidnapped by police and forced to withdraw money from an ATM.

Jason Lee, a jiu-jitsu fighter based in Brazil, says he was taken by police officers in uniform and was threatened with arrest if he didn't withdraw a "large sum of money" as a bribe.

The incident comes less than two weeks before the official start of the Rio Olympics, which has the international community worried about whether things will be ready on time.

In a Facebook post, Lee said: "I'm not sure what's more depressing, the fact this stuff is happening to foreigners so close to the Olympic Games or the fact that Brazilians have to live in a society that enables this absolute bullshit on a daily basis."

Grant Ogilvie was another Kiwi to experience robbery in Rio.

"Two guys on bikes blocked the pavement, and one of them pulled a gun - and although they didn't speak any English it was clear what they were wanting," he said.

They took his partner's bag, searched them, and then let them go.

"It took less than two minutes, but every single second still sticks in my mind," Mr Ogilvie said.

The Rio Games start in 12 days.

Newshub.