USA's five-time Olympic gold medallist Ryan Lochte is confident that his fellow swimmer Michael Phelps will be ready for Rio 2016.

Phelps, who is the most successful Olympian of all time with 22 medals, announced his return to competitive swimming back in April following his retirement after the London 2012 Olympics.

However, his comeback was halted when he was charged with drink-driving in September and decided to enter a rehab facility.

According to Universal Sports, Lochte said that "there's no doubt in my mind" that his teammate and rival Phelps will be fit and ready for the Olympics in two years' time.

"I think I was the only one who said after [London 2012] when he retired that he would be back," Lochte added. "Once you are in that racing mode, it is hard to get rid of."

USA Swimming suspended Phelps for six months on October 6 following the drink-driving charge.