Sports

Michael Phelps suspended by USA Swimming

by Rachel Nixon | February 5, 2009 at 05:41 pm

319 views | 23 Recommendations | 6 comments

Olympian Michael Phelps has been suspended for three months by USA Swimming after he was pictured in a newspaper apparently smoking marijuana.

Swimming's national governing body cut off financial support to Phelps for three months.

"This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero," the federation said in a statement.

"Michael has voluntarily accepted this reprimand and has committed to earn back our trust."

To add to his woes, the eight-time gold medal winner on Thursday lost a major endorsement contract with Kelloggs.

The world's largest cereal maker said on Thursday it would not extend a contract with Phelps, who charmed audiences in Beijing last year with a record-breaking, eight-gold medal haul, saying the photo of the swimmer was inconsistent with its public image.

After a photo of a bong-smoking Phelps appeared in the UK's News of the World newspaper, the swimmer apologised to his fans, saying:

I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again.”

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Barry ORegan

at 23:07 on February 5th, 2009

Yeah, but he will make some serious coin when he comes to Vangroovy on his motivational tour .

http://my.nowpublic.com/sports/michael-phelps-coming-vancouver-autograph-bong-signing

Barry ORegan

at 23:08 on February 5th, 2009

Oh how the mighty have fallen and the media vultures are not ones to miss an opportunity to showcase it.

Uwe Paschen

at 05:02 on February 6th, 2009

Hum, A little over reacting, from the sound of it.

Old Gold (not verified)

at 18:52 on February 6th, 2009

"POT"? Big deal. What about that other guy who admitted when in college he did pot and cocain. Didn't seem to big a big deal to those who voted him president of the United States of America. Give Michael a break!

Fripouille

at 10:13 on February 7th, 2009

Childish, petulant, and shooting onself in the foot decision.

I am going to finish this comment, roll myself a joint, and kick back with some Tom Waits in protest at this futile moral lesson.

(And if Phelps is reading this, he's welcome to join me.....)

tiredofthebull

at 13:05 on February 13th, 2009

This whole Michael Phelps thing has been blown completely out of proportion. Yes he is an olympic gold medal winner who never had a real chance of being a teenager and making his own mistakes- now he has that chance, made a mistake, not everyone else should get over it. If he wants to throw away a swimming career- his choice, no one else. No one has the right to say what is best for him and his life. And as far as him being a role model that has let down the children that look up to him- the truth is the media has let those kids down- it they wouldn't acting like vultures and exploit this story- the kids would have never known. People should worry about their own lives, their own mistakes and life lessons, and everyone would be just fine.