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Phelps gets a 3-month competition suspension
By Paul Newberry and Beth Harris |
February 7, 2009, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MICHAEL Phelps has been suspended from competition for three months by USA Swimming in the latest fallout from a photo that showed the Olympic great inhaling from a marijuana pipe.
The sport's US governing body also cut off its financial support to Phelps for the same three-month period, effective Thursday.
"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."
Phelps won a record eight gold medals in Beijing to become one of the world's most acclaimed athletes. Now he's enduring a wave of bad news in the wake of the photo, published last Sunday by the News of the World.
Earlier Thursday, cereal and snack maker Kelloggs announced it wouldn't renew its sponsorship contract with Phelps, saying his behavior is "not consistent with the image of Kellogg."
USA Swimming provides a US$1,750 monthly stipend to national team members to help defray travel and training expenses, plus performance bonuses. It's a small percentage of the millions Phelps makes through endorsements.
"Michael accepts these decisions and understands their point of view," said one of his agents, Drew Johnson. "He feels bad he let anyone down. He's also encouraged by the thousands of comments he's received from his fans and the support from his many sponsors. He intends to work hard to regain everyone's trust."
Phelps' coach Bob Bowman believes the swimmer will emerge from the experience stronger.
"Michael's been through a lot and he's learned a lot, hopefully," Bowman told The Associated Press during a telephone interview. "I support him and I want to see him do better. I'm here, as always, to try to help him move forward. He's learned some tough lessons and he's disappointed a lot of people, me included."
Phelps has acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment." He didn't dispute the authenticity of the photo, reportedly taken at a house party while Phelps was visiting Columbia, South Carolina, in November.
Phelps has resumed training in his home city Baltimore, but his plans to return to competitive swimming will have to be put on hold. Phelps had planned to compete in March at a Grand Prix meet in Austin, Texas.
Now, he won't be able to compete until May, giving him a little more than two months for some racing before July's world championships in Rome.
The sport's US governing body also cut off its financial support to Phelps for the same three-month period, effective Thursday.
"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."
Phelps won a record eight gold medals in Beijing to become one of the world's most acclaimed athletes. Now he's enduring a wave of bad news in the wake of the photo, published last Sunday by the News of the World.
Earlier Thursday, cereal and snack maker Kelloggs announced it wouldn't renew its sponsorship contract with Phelps, saying his behavior is "not consistent with the image of Kellogg."
USA Swimming provides a US$1,750 monthly stipend to national team members to help defray travel and training expenses, plus performance bonuses. It's a small percentage of the millions Phelps makes through endorsements.
"Michael accepts these decisions and understands their point of view," said one of his agents, Drew Johnson. "He feels bad he let anyone down. He's also encouraged by the thousands of comments he's received from his fans and the support from his many sponsors. He intends to work hard to regain everyone's trust."
Phelps' coach Bob Bowman believes the swimmer will emerge from the experience stronger.
"Michael's been through a lot and he's learned a lot, hopefully," Bowman told The Associated Press during a telephone interview. "I support him and I want to see him do better. I'm here, as always, to try to help him move forward. He's learned some tough lessons and he's disappointed a lot of people, me included."
Phelps has acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment." He didn't dispute the authenticity of the photo, reportedly taken at a house party while Phelps was visiting Columbia, South Carolina, in November.
Phelps has resumed training in his home city Baltimore, but his plans to return to competitive swimming will have to be put on hold. Phelps had planned to compete in March at a Grand Prix meet in Austin, Texas.
Now, he won't be able to compete until May, giving him a little more than two months for some racing before July's world championships in Rome.
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