Michael Phelps, seen during the Olympic Games, has been on a whirlwind schedule since his medal haul. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps admitted to "regrettable behaviour" on Sunday after a picture surfaced in a British tabloid allegedly showing him smoking marijuana at a party.
The News of the World published a photo this weekend of a man with a ball cap pulled backwards taking a hit from a bong, claiming it was Phelps. The picture was reportedly from a November house party near the University Of South Carolina.
"I engaged in behaviour which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said in a statement to the Associated Press. "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."
Marijuana is viewed differently from performance-enhancing drugs, according to David Howman, executive director of the World Anti-Doping Agency. An athlete is subject to WADA sanctions only for a positive test that occurs during competition periods.
"We don't have any jurisdiction," Howman said. "It's not banned out of competition. It's only if you test positive in competition."
While the newspaper did not specifically allege that Phelps was smoking pot, it did say the water pipe is generally used for that purpose and anonymously quoted a partygoer who said the Olympic champion was "out of control from the moment he got there."
Phelps and his advisers did not dispute the authenticity of the picture.
Phelps is the all-time leader for all Olympic competitors with 14 gold medals and 16 medals in total. He broke Mark Spitz's hallowed mark for the most gold medals at a single Olympics, winning eight at the Beijing Games in August.
For his accomplishments, the six-foot-five Phelps received a ton of accolades, including AP athlete of the year and the sportsman of the year by Sports Illustrated.
In between, he appeared on Saturday Night Live and released a book, No Limits: The Will to Succeed. In the book, co-authored with Alan Abrahamson, Phelps talks about a childhood diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
He has previously talked about health scares associated with a rapid growth spurt as a teen.
Phelps' main sanctions most likely will be financial, perhaps doled out by embarrassed sponsors who could reconsider their dealings with a swimmer who hopes to earn $100 million in endorsements.
He is planning to compete at the 2012 London Olympics, although he said earlier this month he would never compete in eight events at a major meet again.
USA Swimming said its Olympic champions are "looked up to by people of all ages, especially young athletes who have their own aspirations and dreams."
"That said," the governing body added in a statement, "we realize that none among us is perfect. We hope that Michael can learn from this incident and move forward in a positive way."
The News of the World thundered that the "astonishing picture" threatened to "destroy the career of the greatest competitor in Olympic history."
While that is highly implausible, combined with an earlier arrest as a teen, it could make a dent in his marketability. Phelps has scored endorsement deals with a raft of major firms, including Speedo, Visa, Omega, Hilton, AT&T, PureSport and Kellogg Co.
Phelps received a probationary sentence of 18 months after pleading guilty to driving while impaired in 2004. A Maryland state trooper said he believed Phelps had been drinking after he failed sobriety tests.
This was different, to be sure, but it could have the same damaging impact on Phelps' image and reputation, which were riding high after the Beijing Games.
"Michael is a role model, and he is well aware of the responsibilities and accountability that come with setting a positive example for others, particularly young people," the U.S. Olympic Committee said in a statement. "In this instance, regrettably, he failed to fulfill those responsibilities."
With files from the Associated Press
