Rio Olympics 2016: US swimmers Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger taken off plane at Rio airport by police for questioning after ‘being robbed at gunpoint’

AMERICAN swimmers Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were taken off a plane at Rio airport as local police investigate Sunday's alleged robbery involving them and two team-mates.

Bentz and Conger, who both won gold medals in the 4x200 metres freestyle relay, claimed their taxi returning to the athletes' village, which also had James Feigen and Ryan Lochte in it, was stopped by men posing as armed police who robbed them.

But that story appears to be starting to unravel, as CCTV footage has emerged in the Brazilian media of Feigen and Lochte returning to the village much later than they claimed, and Lochte's wallet, which was supposed to have been stolen, passing through the security check. Rio police have also been unable to find the driver of their taxi.

Patrick Sandusky, a United States Olympic Committee spokesman, said: "We can confirm that Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were removed from their flight to the United States by Brazilian authorities. We are gathering further information."

The duo were released later that night but will be questioned further on Thursday.

Earlier on Wednesday, Rio police tried to stop Feigen and Lochte from leaving Brazil in order to question them further about the disputed robbery.