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[achutank]

Michael Phelps may not swim in 2012 games

6 hours, 34 minutes ago

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BALTIMORE (TICKER) —Michael Phelps is not sure if he will participate in the Olympics again.

In the wake of the tabloid photograph showing the American swimming great smoking from a marijuana pipe, Phelps told The Baltimore Sun on Wednesday that the intense public scrutiny has him contemplating whether to compete in the 2012 Games in London.

In his first public comments since the story broke, the 23-year-old Phelps spoke with the newspaper inside Baltimore’s Meadowbrook Aquatic Center after finishing his daily workout.

“This is a decision of mine that I’m not going to make today and I’m not going to make tomorrow,” said Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals last summer at the Beijing Olympics. “It’s going to require a lot of time and energy and a lot of thinking for myself - but also talking to (my coach Bob Bowman) and talking to my family and just deciding what I want to do.”
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Phelps, who suffered another public embarrassment after a drunken-driving arrest in 2004, said he is disappointed that he let down not only his fans, but his mother, Debbie.

“Seeing my mom reminded me of how it was the day after I got my DUI, and I swore to myself I’d never do that again,” he told The Sun. “This is just a stupid thing of mine that I did, and I have to live with it.”

Bowman indicated he thinks Phelps - who owns a record 14 career gold medals - will persevere and make a go of it in 2012.

That preservation will have to include some loss in endorsement money, as Kellogg has stated it will allow its contract with Phelps to expire at the end of the month.

“Michael’s most recent behavior is not consistent with the image of Kellogg,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “His contract expires at the end of February, and we have made a decision not to extend his contract.”

The Battle Creek, Michigan-based company signed Phelps to the deal shortly after the Beijing Olympics, placing his picture on boxes of Corn Flakes and Frosted Flakes cereals.

The deal made Phelps exclusive to Kellogg, preventing the swimmer from gracing a box of Wheaties like numerous U.S. Olympic heroes have done in the past.

Phelps has not admitted to smoking marijuana but also did not deny the authenticity of the photo, taken during a party last November at the University of South Carolina.

When asked by The Sun whether he regularly smoked the illegal drug, Phelps said he did not.

“This was stupid, and I know this won’t happen again,” Phelps said. “It’s obviously bad judgment, and it’s something I’m not proud of at all.

“I will say that with the mistakes that I’ve made in my life, I’ve learned from them. Every one of them. And I’ve become a better person. That’s what I plan to do from here.”

Swimming’s governing body, FINA, announced Wednesday that it had accepted an apology from Phelps, and the majority of his sponsors have vowed to stand by him.

However, South Carolina Sheriff Leon Lott has stated that he will press charges against Phelps if he can prove the swimmer smoked marijuana in his jurisdiction.

Marijuana possession is considered a misdemeanor in Richland County and is punishable by up to 30 days in jail.

The photo that sparked the controversy captured Phelps - sporting a backward-worn baseball cap and a white T-shirt - inhaling from a “bong.”

“There are always people you can’t trust,” Phelps said. “During the whole thing, I’ve really been able to see who my friends are, who my family are and who really loves and supports me.

“They’ve stood by my side, from the countless text messages, phone messages, e-mails - those are your friends. All those people who are around during the good times? Those aren’t your friends.”

[dextrous]

yes, he's not being banned, though...just being frowned upon by the public court

[achutank]

marijuana does not enhance any sports skill of that i have some first hand knowledge

seriously,i can understand why we should be punishing phelps for drug use - goes against the very spirit of what a sportsman stands for which is health and energy and discipline - but not having him swim in the next olymipics is cruel to him (he is just a very young adult) and to the world at large

i feel some disticntion has to be made between drug abusers and drug cheats

[keep-it-cool]

i heard he's been banned for 3 months or something like that

[WicketView]

marijuana does not enhance any sports skill of that i have some first hand knowledge

seriously,i can understand why we should be punishing phelps for drug use - goes against the very spirit of what a sportsman stands for which is health and energy and discipline - but not having him swim in the next olymipics is cruel to him (he is just a very young adult) and to the world at large

i feel some disticntion has to be made between drug abusers and drug cheats

I agree. But is someone stopping him from swimming in 2012?