RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazilian police said Thursday that swimmer Ryan Lochte and three U.S. teammates were not robbed after a night of partying, and the intoxicated athletes instead vandalized a gas station bathroom and were questioned by armed guards before they paid for the damage and left.The robbery that was or wasnt has become the biggest spectacle outside of the Olympic venues in Rio, casting a shadow over American athletes amid an otherwise remarkable run at the Summer Games. The ordeal was also a blow to Brazilians, who for months endured scrutiny about whether the city could keep athletes and tourists safe given its long history of violence.No robbery was committed against these athletes. They were not victims of the crimes they claimed, Civil Police Chief Fernando Veloso said during a news conference.The police account came in direct contrast to claims from Lochtes attorney earlier in the week. The attorney, Jeff Ostrow, had insisted the swimmer had nothing to gain by making the story up. He, as well as Lochtes father and agent, did not return phone calls seeking comment.The swimmers could potentially face punishment -- probation, suspension, a fine or expulsion -- under USA Swimmings code of conduct. It was not clear if the swimmers would face criminal charges, though police said the athletes could be charged with destruction of property, falsely reporting a crime or both.Two of the swimmers -- Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger -- checked in to a flight out of Brazil late Thursday after a judge lifted the order seizing their passports and keeping them in the country. They had testified about the incident earlier in the day, and Brazilians chanted liar as they left the police building.They did not lie in their statements. They never lied to journalists. They only stayed quiet. They did not know what was going on, attorney Sergio Riera said.The last swimmer in Rio, Jimmy Feigen, provided an updated statement to police, U.S. Olympic officials said, and hoped to get his passport back shortly to return home.The saga began when Lochte claimed that he and his teammates were held at gunpoint and robbed several hours after the last Olympic swimming races ended. But police then said they didnt have evidence to substantiate the story. Their passports were ordered seized so the investigation could continue, but Lochte had already left the country.While some details in the official account of the story changed on Thursday -- police first said no guns were involved, then said two guards pointed weapons at the swimmers -- security video confirmed the athletes vandalized parts of the gas station, leading to an encounter with station employees.The closed-circuit video shows one of the swimmers pulling a sign off of a wall and dropping it onto the ground. A gas station worker arrives, and other workers inspect the damage. Veloso said the swimmers broke a door, a soap dispenser and a mirror.The swimmers eventually talk with station workers as their cab leaves.As they talk, two of the swimmers briefly raise their hands and all four sit down on a curb. After a few minutes, the swimmers stand up and appear to exchange something -- perhaps cash, as police said -- with one of the men.The footage doesnt show a weapon, but a police official speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing said two guards pointed guns during the encounter. Veloso said the guards did not use excessive force and would have been justified in drawing their weapons because the athletes were conducting themselves in a violent way.A station employee called police, and the guards and employees tried to get the swimmers and the taxi driver to stay until authorities arrived, some even offering to help interpret between English and Portuguese, Veloso said. But he said the athletes wanted to leave, so paid 100 Brazilian reals (about US $33) and $20 in U.S. currency and left.Conger and Bentz told authorities that the story of the robbery had been fabricated, said the police official who spoke to the AP about the guns.Police said the swimmers were unable to provide key details in early interviews, saying they had been intoxicated. The police official said officers grew suspicious when security video showed the swimmers returning to the athletes village wearing watches, which would have likely been taken in a robbery.We got pulled over, in the taxi, and these guys came out with a badge, a police badge, no lights, no nothing just a police badge and they pulled us over, Lochte told NBCs Today the morning after the incident. 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 didnt do anything wrong, so -- Im not getting down on the ground.And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, `Get down, and I put my hands up, I was like `whatever. He took our money, he took my wallet -- he left my cellphone, he left my credentials.Lochte backed off some of those claims as the week went on, saying the taxi wasnt pulled over, and that the athletes were robbed after stopping at a gas station. Lochte also said a man pointed a gun toward him, but not at his head.The swimmers did not call police, authorities said, and officers only began investigating after they saw news coverage with Lochtes mother speaking about the incident. Lochte also said the swimmers didnt initially tell U.S. Olympic officials what happened because we were afraid wed get in trouble.While hes medaled often, Lochtes accomplishments have long been overshadowed by teammate Michael Phelps -- the most decorated Olympian in history. Lochte, a 12-time medalist, won a gold in Rio in a relay race alongside Phelps.The robbery debacle prompted both wild speculation and social media mockery, which quickly turned to scorn after the official account went public. (hash)LochteGate trended on Twitter, with users sharing video footage and posting comments about white privilege and rude Americans. Memes mocking the Lochte lie proliferated almost immediately.David Fleischer, a political scientist at the University of Brasilia, said the incident touched a nerve in Brazil because of the countrys history and cases of people committing crimes while impersonating police.The story did have some sense of validity but it didnt bear out and it made them look bad worldwide, he said.---AP reporters Beth Harris, Chris Lehourites, Pauline Arrillaga and Renata Brito in Rio de Janeiro, and Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report.---This story has been corrected to reflect that the lawyer for two of the swimmers is Sergio Riera, not Sergio Viegas. Yeezy 350 Nz Online . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker. Cheap Yeezy 350 Nz . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. http://www.wholesaleyeezy350nz.com/ . -- Eastern Kentucky thrives off creating havoc for others. Cheap Yeezy 350 Real .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Cheap Yeezy 350 . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. Houston coach Tom Herman and his defending American Athletic Conference champion Cougars have moved on from one of the best seasons in the history of the program.The words Peach Bowl are banned from the football facility. All the gear and swag the Cougars brought back from Atlanta after beating Florida State is not allowed to be worn at team gatherings.I havent sensed an ounce of complacency, which is good, Herman said.There is a similar feeling throughout the conference as the American tries to build on a season in which the league set itself apart as the strongest outside the Power Five conferences.Temple, Memphis and Navy all spent time in the AP Top 25 and by the end of the season South Florida was playing as well as any of those teams.The AAC notched 10 wins in 2015 against Power Five conference teams, including Mississippi, Miami, Penn State and Louisville. The Cougars 38-24 victory against Florida State was the highlight, a final statement that helped the American recover from what was otherwise a blah bowl season. The conference heads into 2016 with chests puffed with pride.We have forged a powerful Power Six narrative as a nationally relevant and respected conference, Commissioner Mike Aresco said.A true Power Six is not happening anytime soon, but the realistic goal for the American in 2016 is to again lock up the spot in the New Years Six bowls that goes to the highest-ranked Group of Five conference champion.THE FAVORITESEast: USF coach Willie Taggart was heading toward the hot seat before redirecting the Bulls to seven wins in eight games to end the regular season. The Bulls return the talented threesome of quarterback Quinton Flowers, running back Marlon Mack and receiver Rodney Adams and most of the back seven on defense.Temple, retooling what was the best defense in the conference last year, and Cincinnati figure to push the Bulls. UConn is hoping to improve its offense enough to be a dark horse contender.West: Houston is an overwhelming favorite to repeat. Quarterback Greg Ward Jr., who acccounted for 38 touchdowns last season, returns to lead a potent offense.dddddddddddd The defense will rely on a talented front.Contenders Memphis and Navy are both replacing star quarterbacks. Keep an eye on SMU and Tulsa with their second-year coaches and prolific offenses.TOP PLAYERS- Ward could be a legitimate Heisman contender if he can lead the Cougars into playoff contention with big games in the opener against Oklahoma and a late-season meeting versus Louisville.- QB Dane Evans, Tulsa, passed for 4,332 yards in his first season running coach Philip Montgomerys Baylor offense.- RB Marlon Mack, USF, has led the American in rushing the last two seasons.- DT Foley Fatukasi, UConn, eight sacks last season.- QB Matt Davis, SMU, threw for 2,263 yards and 16 touchdowns and led the Mustangs with 761 yards rushing and 10 scores.NEW FACES- Tulane coach Willie Fritz. The Green Wave lured Fritz away from Georgia Southern. Dont expect a typical triple-option in New Orleans. Fritzs offenses when he was at FBS Sam Houston could air it out.- East Carolina coach Scottie Montgomery. The 38-year-old former Duke offensive coordinator brings an all-business approach to the Pirates.- UCF coach Scott Frost. The former Oregon offensive coordinator takes over a team that went winless last season. This rebuild is likely to take a while.- Memphis coach Mike Norvell. The 34-year-old offensive coordinator from Arizona State has a tough act to follow in Justin Fuente.ON THE HOT SEATNone. Another disappointing season for Tommy Tuberville at Cincinnati could generate some heat. In the AAC, its about retaining the rising-stars the way Houston did with Herman and Temple did with Matt Rhule. How much longer can they keep those guys around?PREDICTIONEASTUSFTempleUConnCincinnatiEast CarolinaUCFWESTHoustonNavyTulsaMemphisSMUTulaneConference champion: USF.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP ' ' '