They found out through social media

Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira has been sent home from the games while her boyfriend and fellow Olympian Gabriel Santos has been given a warning.

The Brazilian Olympic confirmed on Sunday 28 July that the pair left the athletes village without permission and their infraction was only discovered following their posts on social media.

The committee received a statement from the Head of the Brazilian Swimming Team which explained that the swimmers had ‘committed acts of indiscipline’.

The Brazilian Confederation of Aquatic Sports (CBDA) decided to punish the pair for leaving the village. They said Vieira was disrespectful and aggressive as she opposed the decision which was why she was sent home.

The statement read: "As a result, Gabriel Santos was given a warning and Ana Carolina Vieira was dismissed from the delegation. She will return to Brazil immediately."

Brazil’s swimming team leader, Gustavo Otsuka explained why the behaviour was unacceptable.

He said: "We're not here playing or taking a vacation. We're here working for Brazil, for the 200 million taxpayers who are working for us.

"We can't play around here. She took a completely inappropriate position to make her point, her dismay, about the formation of the relay."

He clarified that the reason the swimmer had been sent home was her aggressive reaction to being reprimanded.

Commenters took to social media to question the decision to send one home and not the other.

One person wrote: “Why didn't he leave the Olympics too? Should pay a fine for irresponsibility.”

Another commented: “To think that there are real athletes who dream of going to an Olympics and there are people like this who don't care. Hopefully they won't be allowed to attend anymore.”