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Ryan Lochte’s estranged wife, Kayla Lochte, claimed she found empty baggies of cocaine allegedly left by the Olympian in their home and caught him inhaling nitrous oxide in front of one of their kids, Us Weekly can exclusively report.
On August 21, Kayla, 34, filed court documents making shocking claims against Ryan, 41, in their ongoing divorce and asked the court to award her sole physical custody of their three kids: Caiden, 8, Liv, 6, and Georgia, 2. Ryan adamantly denied the accusations in a statement to Us.
In her filing, Kayla claimed, “Shared parental responsibility would be detrimental to the children because [Ryan] has a history of substance abuse and, upon information and belief, he is still abusing illegal controlled substances.”
Kayla said she found “mostly empty baggies of cocaine around the marital home as [Ryan] had consumed the majority of the contents before the baggies were discovered.”
She alleged the bags were found underneath the dining room table, one of the children’s bedrooms and another kid’s bathroom counter. Kayla said Ryan had a “tendency to doze off during the day, often times after he” dropped off the kids at school.
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“Upon his return home, [Kayla] would find him passed out in the driver’s seat, with the car still on and the music blaring. [Ryan] has also fallen asleep while being the only adult watching the children because [Kayla] was working out of town,” the filing read.
She claimed she “also caught [Ryan] inhaling nitrous oxide in front of” one of their kids while they “were in the garage with him.”
Ryan Lochte Mike Pont/FilmMagicKayla also accused Ryan of driving the kids around unsafely. She said that since Ryan has been in multiple car accidents, this causes her concern. She pointed out that he totaled another car on August 7.
Her filing alleged she found Ryan had “also driven the children to school while intoxicated.”
In her motion, Kayla claimed Ryan failed a drug test two months ago. She said he failed another recent hair follicle test for drugs. She said he asked her for the children to spend the night but he refused to submit to an in-home drug test, so she refused to let him see the kids.
“[Ryan’s] recurring and repeated irresponsible behavior shows he is unfit to exercise shared parental responsibility, and it would [be] a detriment to the minor children to award the same,” Kayla’s lawyer wrote.
On August 29, Ryan announced he was over 50 days sober in a video posted on social media.
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When contacted by Us, Ryan admitted to previously struggling with drugs but denied using them around the children.
“As I acknowledged earlier this week, after my car accident in 2023, I fell into a cycle of depression that led to substance abuse,” Ryan told Us. “I am not denying that I used drugs in my home, but I adamantly deny ever using drugs in front of or around my children, and I have never driven them while intoxicated.”
Ryan continued, “At times, I would rest in my truck instead of going inside — not because I was impaired, but because the home environment had become overwhelming and very toxic, and I needed a moment to collect myself before walking in.”
“I have tried desperately to keep these divorce proceedings private and sealed, not to protect myself, but to protect my children from fabricated allegations that could hurt them. Unfortunately, despite that effort, my ex-wife chose to make this matter public, knowing I was already in intensive rehab,” Ryan added.
Ryan Lochte Brian Killian/WireImageIn regard to Kayla’s claim about him recently totaling a car, Ryan told Us, “It happened during a thunderstorm late in the evening as I was returning home from my rehab meeting, and I lost control of the vehicle.”
“We all make mistakes in life. We are not defined by those mistakes, but by how we learn from them and the work we put in to overcome them. I am extremely sorry for hurting or disappointing anyone along the way,” Ryan told Us. “My focus now is on my recovery, on being the best father I can be, and on moving forward in a way that keeps my kids safe, supported, and loved.”
He concluded, “To anyone struggling with substance abuse: you are not alone. There are people who love you, and there are resources that can help. Reaching out for support is the first step toward healing.”
In her filing, Kayla also demanded support and alimony and continued exclusive use of the Florida home they shared.
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Kayla asked the court for permission to move from Florida to California. She said she cannot rely on Ryan due to a “multitude of substance abuse issues, and [Ryan’s] work takes him all over the country and the world.”
She said she has extended family in California who would help care for their kids.
On August 26, Ryan’s lawyer asked for Kayla’s motion to be sealed. He said the filing contained “scandalous accusations” that could harm the athlete’s career. A judge has yet to rule on Ryan’s motion to keep the documents confidential.
Richard Sullivan of Sullivan Law & Associates, a top family law practice in California, who does not represent Ryan or Kayla, spoke to Us about Kayla’s request to move across the country.
Sullivan tells Us, “I would expect a California court to be receptive to relocation — particularly if the moving parent can show both a legitimate purpose for the move and safeguards for the other parent’s access. The allegations of repeated drug use, driving under the influence, and unsafe care of the children would weigh heavily in favor of allowing relocation. However, the court would still require a structured parenting plan to preserve the father’s relationship with the children, likely through extended supervised visits during school breaks.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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