'Survivor' winner lied to get time off

He won $1 million from the show and was paid $8,000 for the tour.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- A former winner on "Survivor" lied to get time off from his job as a state highway worker to join a promotional tour for the reality TV show in Europe last year, an investigation found.
Chris Daugherty, 35, of South Vienna, filed a false claim that he needed the unpaid leave because he was under stress and suffering from depression, an Ohio Department of Transportation hearing officer ruled Thursday.
He landed the $1 million prize in 2004 for "Survivor: Vanuatu -- Islands of Fire," but returned to his $34,000 a year job with ODOT, working on roads in central Ohio.
Daugherty could face penalties ranging from reprimand to dismissal, ODOT spokesman Andrew Gall said.
"Daugherty's claim that he had an illness which 'just happened' to coincide with his 'Survivor' tour is simply not credible," wrote ODOT chief investigator Les Reel.
Doctor's orders
Daugherty said Friday that he sought the leave on the order of a doctor who told him to get away to combat stress. He had asked for unpaid leave or if he'd qualify for military leave -- even though he never served in the armed services -- because the promotional tour included visiting U.S. Army troops stationed in Europe, he said.
"What would George Bush think of the Ohio Department of Transportation giving me a hard time to support our troops overseas?" Daugherty asked.
ODOT's investigation said that, after his requests for time off were denied, he submitted the doctor's excuse.
ODOT said Daugherty's initial requests were refused because he had already used all but 29 hours of his vacation days, sick leave and personal time.
He also took two weeks off earlier last year for health reasons, he said.
"I depleted my time, I got way too much on my plate. It became overwhelming for me," he said. "I was stressed out, depressed, worried about my job, worried about my contract with CBS. I lost 30 pounds and had anxiety and fatigue."
ODOT officials said Daugherty acknowledged afterward to investigators that he used the time off to attend the CBS-sponsored "Survivor" tour in Germany and Italy last Sept. 25 through Oct. 8, for which he was paid $8,000. He took an additional two weeks off after the tour before returning to work, ODOT records show.
Daugherty said his health has improved this year but he has missed some work because of his wife's cancer treatments.