Ryan Lochte banned as swimming legend posts incriminating photo of himself on IV vitamin drip
America's 12-time Olympic medallist admits breaching Anti-Doping Agency rules - as he exceeds maximum dose allowed
SUPERSTAR swimmer Ryan Lochte has been banned for 14 months after posting an incriminating photo of himself on an intravenous drip.
America's six-time Olympic gold medallist will miss next year's World Championships after admitting exceeding the 100 millilitres limit for a vitamin complex.
Lochte, 33, who married Playboy Playmate Kayla Rae Reid in January, earlier served a 10-month suspension for falsely claiming he was robbed at gunpoint at the 2016 Olympics.
The US Anti Doping Agency today confirmed he has been banned again - until next July as the suspension has been backdated to May 24.
Lochte was not accused of taking a banned substance but IV injections are usually not allowed and he accepted he had broken regulations.
He claimed he took the vitamins to protect himself as his wife and daughter Caiden Zane were ill.
The B-complex and other vitamins in the drip can be commonly bought at pharmacies - but doping chiefs have strict rules on dosage.
report Lochte as saying: said: "It's crazy to think about.
"I was back in top shape, I've been training every day, and now this.
"A rule is a rule and I accept that there is a technical violation.
"I am hopeful that other athletes learn from my mistake."
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THE USADA confirmed: "Lochte received an intravenous infusion of permitted substances at an infusion clinic."
But athletes generally cannot receive IVs unless for hospital treatment or if the ADA approves an exemption.
Neither case applied to Lochter.
The yank, whose Olympic haul also includes three silvers and three bronzes became a controversial figure at Rio two years ago.
His sensational robbery claims were debunked when surveillance footage showed a drunken Lochte urinating outside at a petrol station and vandalizing property.