Michael Phelps: “I Am Sorry” for Drug Photos
*Sorry for the delay in posting this morning. I woke up to a broken router…so frustrating! I’m now sitting at a coffee shop in Beaverton, trying to post. Posts will be coming now!
Michael Phelps has apologized for photos that surfaced in Britain’s News of the World Sunday that show him apparently smoking a marijuana pipe.
“I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment,” Phelps said in a statement released to the Associated Press, and posted on his Facebook page, Sunday. “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 photos were snapped in November — three months after he set records by winning eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics — at a University of South Carolina house party.
Marijuana is banned under World Anti-Doping Agency rules. Athletes caught using drugs could face a two-year ban from the Olympics. Also at stake: his endorsement deals, which ABC estimated could be worth $100 million over the course of his lifetime.
The U.S. Olympic Committee released a statement saying it was “disappointed in the behavior recently exhibited by Michael Phelps.”
“Michael has acknowledged that he made a mistake and apologized for his actions,” the statement continued. “We are confident that, going forward, Michael will consistently set the type of example we all expect from a great Olympic champion.”
This isn’t the first time Phelps has faced controversy. In 2004 — the same year he won six gold and two bronze medals in Athens — he was sentenced to 18 months probation for drunk driving.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:49 am
This picture just proves that you can smoke weed and still accomplish great things.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:53 am
I don’t know why he even admitted this is him. You can’t tell 100% from the picture, I would have just denied. haha
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:02 am
Ha ha ha ha… I knew it wouldn’t take long for him to do something stupid. Stupid cocky bastard. All that success went to his head and he thought he was the shit. Irresponsible and stupid is an understatement. The same way he prances around with different girls. Such a shame. Whatever though. The long lanky asshole still got more money than me so fuck him
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:16 pm
looks like he’s sorry… SORRY he got his picture taken smoking weed
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I didn’t know who Michael Phelps was (thought he’s the scientist from C.S.I.) and really don’t care much. But I gotta tell you, I just loved your comments here! LOL. Shows how we all live in worlds of our own
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Who gaves a sh*t if he smokes weed? That is his business. And I agree with Rachel: goes to show you that you can smoke weed and still accomplish your goals. He’s still just like a college age kid, really, anyway.
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:03 pm
uhh it is illegal and I doubt he has glaucoma…and most college kids are not 23 Grow the f*ck up!
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:43 pm
actually most college kids are between the age of 18 and 24 so get ya shit straight
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:25 pm
If Michael Phelps is into smoking pipes then good for him. Just because he enjoys smoking a water pipe does not mean he should have to lie about it and talk about the “big mistake” he made. The government makes a mistake every time it enforces marijuana prohibition at the expense of America and good since. America should grow up and quit attacking its own citizens for how they decide to spend their recreational time.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:03 am
i am now totally convinced that smoking weed is evil since it limited Phelps to winning only 8 gold medals in a single Olympic appearance — he should have entered other events and won more medals
February 12th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Don’t worry about the image a celebrity is presenting or what your kids will think…..worry about what image you are presenting to your children. It is our job to raise our children not television. I believe he is only sorry he got caught.