Michael Phelps Caught Smoking Marijuana

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

01 Feb 2009 07:12 PM

Michael Phelps was supposed to be at tonight's Super Bowl game in Tampa, Florida. But instead, the Olympic great is at an undisclosed location hiding out from the press.

Mr. Fitness, the pool guru of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, the part man/part fish uber-athlete, is dodging the media right now because he was caught taking a hit from a marijuana pipe.

Interestingly, rather than blow off speculation that it was indeed his mug displayed in a photo showing him inhaling from a pot pipe, Phelps issues a public statement earlier today saying:

"I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. 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."

The lightning fast swimmer who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games did not dispute the authenticity of the exclusive picture published Sunday by the tabloid News of the World. Nor did Phelps deny that the photo was snapped during a November house party that he attended while visiting the University of South Carolina. According to News of the World, Phelps received a rousing welcome by partygoers. In fact, one fellow partier told the tabloid that the super swimmer was "out of control from the moment he got there."

To be fair, the rag did not specifically allege that Phelps took hits from the pipe; however, it did say the pipe is generally used for smoking marijuana.

Soon after Phelps made his statement the U.S. Olympic Committee responded by saying that they were "disappointed in the behavior recently exhibited by Michael Phelps," who was selected the group's sportsman of the year after breaking Mark Spitz's 36-year-old record for most gold medals in an Olympics.

"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 USOC said in a statement. "In this instance, regrettably, he failed to fulfill those responsibilities."

Phelps also failed to show up for tonight's Super Bowl match-up between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was supposed to be at Raymond James Stadium, but flew out of Tampa shortly after his statement went public. Some sources say he has returned to his home in Baltimore where he is currently training for this summer's world championships in Rome.

According to news reports, Phelps is planning to take part in his first post-Olympics meet next month in Austin, Texas.

What do you make of Phelps' smoking brouhaha? The fitness fanatic usually smokes his competition in the pool... not out of it. I think this story will die quickly. What do you think?

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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drnewmom (307) 02 Feb 2009 07:36 AM

Would it have been a big deal if he was "caught" smoking in Holland, where it is legalized? I don't doubt that he was taking a break from working so hard and "just trying to be a kid". Kid in this sense means the young adult kind... Was it right? no. should he be penalized for it? maybe somewhat. Will it go away? maybe, maybe not. I wouldn't be surprised if the debate over the legalization of marijuana is stirred once again...

Libby Pelham (12871) 02 Feb 2009 09:49 AM

I think it is a bit tacky of him to do this. Yes, he is a kid, but you know what - he is earning millions upon millions from his Olympic gold medals and with that should come a little responsibility. There are kids all over the world looking up to him, then he gets caught doing something like this? Everyone should realize that in today's world of camera phones, we all have little to no privacy.

The whole "Marijuana isn't harmful/should be legalized" thing doesn't even come into play here. He was caught doing it in the United States and that is illegal. I think I can sense his gold medals starting to tarnish after this.

Michele Cheplic (37339) 02 Feb 2009 01:10 PM

True, he should have know better given that he was arrested on a DUI charge four years ago and got 18 months probation and said his mom "cried like a baby" when he broke the news to her. Apparently, he didn't learn much from that experience.

CowboysFan24 (30) 02 Feb 2009 07:20 PM

The only thing that I think Mr. Olympics should worry about is all the kids out there who are already getting high. I know that the first thing they thought was " Yes, i can get high and be a superstar!"

Michele Cheplic (37339) 03 Feb 2009 08:33 AM

When they're high they probably think they are superstars already. I agree CowboyFan24! Thanks for the comment.