Rio Olympics: US basketballers 'need to move on' from brothel visit

Carmelo Anthony says his US men's basketball teammates need to accept responsibility and move on after reports that three players visited a legal brothel in Rio de Janeiro.

"What's done is done. We have time off and guys did what they did. We accept those responsibilities and move on," said Anthony, a four-time Olympian and the elder statesmen of the team. The Americans dominated China 119-62.

Anthony was responding to questions about a TMZ report that several players thought they were walking into a spa on their day off Wednesday night, but wound up in a brothel.

At least three members of the men's team - DeAndre Jordan, DeMarcus 'Boogie' Cousins and DeMar Derozan - were allegedly been caught in a brothel in the city.

The trio were busted going into Termas Monte Carlo, an establishment described by Rolling Stone as 'one of the high-end brothels in Rio', according to reports.

The men may have been joined by another three players, though this has not been confirmed.

According to TMZ, the gentleman's club presents itself as a spa and staff have been instructed to give callers that line.

The only indication of the shop's true purpose is when callers are told that it is for men only, and stocks a full bar.

The basketball team say the players took staff at their word and didn't realise what they were walking into until they arrived.

A source told TMZ: "They realised it wasn't the right place for them and immediately left."

However, images from inside the club show Jordan hanging out by the bar, while Cousins stands with a girl who appears to have her arms wrapped around his waist.

Sources from the club say that the men bought some drinks while inside, but nothing else.

The basketball players certainly seem to have been enjoying themselves since arriving in Rio, staying on a cruise ship they have hired after shunning the athlete's village accommodation.

USA Basketball and their sponsor, Cisco, have rented out the entire Silver Cloud cruise ship, to provide enhanced security to such world-famous players as Anthony and Kevin Durant.