Michael Phelps addresses Ryan Lochte Robbery Scandal

Michael Phelps is speaking out about the robbery scandal that has plagued his teammate Ryan Lochte and a group of other swimmers at the Rio Olympics.

The 31-year-old Olympic swimmer said he’s reached out to 32-year-old Lochte since he and three other swimmers came under fire for a false robbery claim, and he’s sure Lochte will learn from the ordeal.

“Ryan and I have been teammates forever and it’s always hard to see a friend and a competitor going through a hard time like this – I know what it feels like. I’ve been through it before,” Phelps said.

“Hopefully he can come out of this a better person. I’ve reached out to him a couple times and I think he understands a lot. He will be able to grow from this.”

Lochte recently admitted that he “ left details out” when he claimed that he, James Fiegen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger were robbed at gunpoint by thieves posing as police officers during a night out in the Brazilian municipality earlier this month.

However, Brazilian authorities disputed the robbery claim and said that a security guard demanded money from the athletes after they allegedly vandalized a gas station.

In the wake of the controversy, Lochte has lost a slew of endorsements, including Speedo USA and Ralph Lauren, and police later said that the swimmer will be summoned back to Brazil to face the country’s Justice Department over the fabricated story.

Ryan Lochte Admits He “Over-Exaggerated” His Robbery Story

Phelps has not been too vocal about the scandal surrounding his pal, only previously telling reporters that “good people are taking care” of the situation, E! Online reports.

Phelps has had his fair share of headline-making scandals.

After dominating at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Phelps got two DUI’s and faced backlash years earlier after a controversial photo surfaced apparently showing him inhaling from a marijuana pipe.