Ryan Lochte will "immediately" seek treatment for alcohol addiction.
Ryan Lochte
The 34-year-old Olympic swimmer has admitted that he has been battling addiction for "many years" and has decided to get help to overcome his issues.
His lawyer Jeff Ostrow, told TMZ: "Ryan has been battling from alcohol addiction for many years and unfortunately it has become a destructive pattern for him.
"He has acknowledged that he needs professional assistance to overcome his problem and will be getting help immediately.
"Ryan knows that conquering this disease now is a must for him to avoid making future poor decisions, to be the best husband and father he can be, and if he wants to achieve his goal to return to dominance in the pool in his fifth Olympics in Tokyo in 2020."
Ryan's decision to seek treatment for his issues comes after an incident at a Southern California hotel last week involving the police.
He drunkenly attempted to kick in the door of his hotel room in Newport Beach in the early hours of the morning, leading hotel staff to call the police.
No arrests were made but the incident made Ryan see that he needs help.
Meanwhile, Ryan recently praised his wife, 27-year-old model Kayla Rae Reid, for being a positive influence on his life.
He said: "Our lives have been a roller coaster ride with everything we've had to deal with. No matter what has happened, she's been there to pick me up. She's the one that has motivated me to keep going and to keep striving for my dreams and my goals not just in sports but in life as well. I owe everything to her."
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