Michael Phelps acknowledges pot pipe photo and apologizes

[RobJohnson]

Swimmer Michael Phelps, who has won more gold medals than anyone in Olympic history, acknowledged Sunday he had engaged in "regrettable" behavior and shown "bad judgment" after a photo of him smoking what appears to be marijuana from a glass pipe was published in a British tabloid over the weekend.

Marijuana is classified by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which oversees Olympic and international drug testing, as a banned "in-competition" substance, meaning Phelps is unlikely to face any punishment or suspension.

"I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said in a statement released by Octagon, his management firm, and posted on his Facebook site. "I'm 23 years old, and despite the successes I have had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner that people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public -- it will not happen again."

Story

[RobJohnson]

The photo:

[Eupher]

Prudent thinking on the part of his management firm.

'Fess up, acknowledge the mistake, and move on.

Had Slick Willie done that, he probably never would've been impeached.

[USA4ME]

I'll never understand these athletes (or other personality types) who have everything going their way and they mess up by using drugs.

.

[Eupher]

I'll never understand these athletes (or other personality types) who have everything going their way and they mess up by using drugs.

.

I dunno.

Seems to me that with only being 23 years old, essentially living in a cocoon now, overshadowed by his handlers, he's exhibiting a little bit of independence and good old fashioned "get outta my face, I wanna do things MY way."

It's unfortunate, but it's not surprising.

Main thing is that he gets back on track and puts this little episode behind him, remembering that he has some fairly hefty responsibilities to himself and others.

[Wineslob]

I believe he also has a past DUI?

[Texacon]

I believe he also has a past DUI?

With these credentials .... it sounds like he is setting himself up to run for President.

KC

[Lord Undies]

This makes me wonder if Rosetta Stone has a Cheech & Chong program. 

[Eupher]

This makes me wonder if Rosetta Stone has a Cheech & Chong program. 

 

Like, wow, man.

h5

[Tess Anderson]

We used to call that a "bong" back in the day.

I have heard he had a DUI before, and that he was an occasional smoker of ze weed. He'd better be careful that he doesn't destroy his extraodinairy lung capacity with this kind of behaviour.

[RobJohnson]

With those lungs, at least he won't ever get Glaucoma. 

[Atomic Lib Smasher]

What sucks is him being a role model and all to kids and maybe potential Olympic athletes. Now if he was just some regular guy, who cares if he kills his braincells by smoking the Hippy Lettuce?


Also this... stolen from V the K

[debk]

He's been in 2 Olympics, back to back.....has spent his entire adolescent years in a swimming pool....with little free time to be a "normal" teenage boy.

Though he is making bad decisions....he is just now doing what most of their peers did during high school and college. He's just an athlete under super spotlights....whereas as his peers are just ordinary people. They didn't get caught whereas he has .....and probably it was one of those supposed "friends" that peddled the pick to the highest bidder.

It's not surprising that he is finally "letting loose"....

I think people ought to lighten up on him a bit and realize that the pedestal that he is slipping off of, was placed under his feet by the very people who are hammering him over the head with said pedestal now.

Maybe he will also realize, that he has choices to make and he needs to think...not twice, but several times.....before he indulges in behavior that may come back and bite him on his cute little tush.

[Miss Mia]

Phelps could face criminal charge over pot flap
South Carolina county officials are investigating alleged marijuana incident

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina authorities in the county where Michael Phelps was spotted smoking from a marijuana pipe say they are considering a criminal charge against the Olympic superstar.

Lt. Chris Cowan said Tuesday that Richland County sheriff’s investigators are gathering more information about the photo, which showed the swimmer inhaling from a marijuana pipe.

Cowan did not specify what charge was being considered and declined to discuss details of the investigation.

The photograph was first shown in a British tabloid Sunday. News of the World said the picture was taken during a November house party while Phelps was visiting the University of South Carolina.

 

[Eupher]

What are they gonna do? Hit Phelps with a misdemeanor and $1,000 fine?

BFD.

Code Section 44-53-110
Possession Misdemeanor: up to 6 mos. and/or $1000; Subsequent offense: misdemeanor, 1 yr. and/or $2000 Under 1 oz.: 30 days and/or $100 to $200; Over 1 oz.: Prima facie guilty of sale; Subsequent offense under 1 oz.: 1 yr. and/or $200 to $1000
Sale Felony: up to 5 yrs. and/or $5,000; Subsequent offense: felony, up to 10 yrs. and/or $10,000; Third offense: felony, 5-20 yrs. and/or $20,000; Sale to minor: misdemeanor, up to 10 yrs. and $10,000
Trafficking 10-100 lbs.: 1-10 yrs. and $10,000; 2nd offense: 5-20 yrs and $15,000; Subsequent offense: mandatory 25 yrs. and $25,000; 100-2000 lbs. or 100-1000 plants: mandatory 25 yrs. and $25,000; 2000-10,000 lbs. or 1000-10,000 plants: mandatory 25 yrs. and $50,000; Over 10,000 lbs. or over 10,000 plants: 25-30 yrs. and $200,000

South Carolina Pot Laws

[debk]

Don't they have to catch him in the act...or in possession to press charges?

It's pot smoking....not murder....

[Tess Anderson]

I don't know, deb, I guess they have him on tape as "proof".

I do think they're trying to make an example out of him with overkill. He's not being treated equally under the law - this is holding him to a much higher standard, unless in SC they always punish people taking bong hits on tape.

[thundley4]

Is it possible that he is still under probation for the DUI?  Punishment for that might require a little less proof than another criminal charge. I dunno.

[debk]

Is it possible that he is still under probation for the DUI?  Punishment for that might require a little less proof than another criminal charge. I dunno.

I wouldn't think he would be on probation longer than 3 yrs for the DUI.

Sounds like some sheriff's dept in SC wants their name in the paper.....for being "strong on drug abuse"....

[thundley4]

I wouldn't think he would be on probation longer than 3 yrs for the DUI.

Sounds like some sheriff's dept in SC wants their name in the paper.....for being "strong on drug abuse"....

I didn't realize it was 3 years old, so it probably wouldn't matter.  If they can get him for a picture like this then Hollyweird should clean up their act.  I have heard of kids being busted for pics put on myspace and youtube videos showing illegal acts.

[debk]

I didn't realize it was 3 years old, so it probably wouldn't matter.  If they can get him for a picture like this then Hollyweird should clean up their act.  I have heard of kids being busted for pics put on myspace and youtube videos showing illegal acts.

News said he was 19 and he's 23 now.

[thundley4]

News said he was 19 and he's 23 now.

I heard Shep Smith do a mini rant on why cops don't go after celebrities that have been photographed or have admitted to doing drugs.

[debk]

I heard Shep Smith do a mini rant on why cops don't go after celebrities that have been photographed or have admitted to doing drugs.

I heard him do his mini rant too.....and he's right.

Just saw a commercial for Katie Couric's pre Grammie show interviewing some black kid and she says to him" I hear you like your weed"....and he says something like I Love ma weed....and she giggled.....

[docstew]

I heard him do his mini rant too.....and he's right.

Just saw a commercial for Katie Couric's pre Grammie show interviewing some black kid and she says to him" I hear you like your weed"....and he says something like I Love ma weed....and she giggled.....

The new SB MVP stated in an interview earlier this week how he sold drugs to help his family during hard times.  Wassamatta Santonio, no groceries to bag at the store?  no lawns to mow?  no options but a felony?

[Manbearpig]

You know, I am sick to death of this 'oh, he's young, they all do it, no biggie, it's not murder' mentality.  It's utter crap.  Not every single young person sits around with their face buried in a bong.  I certainly didn't do that crap and neither did my sister.

Millions of teenagers smoking pot doesn't make it right and it doesn't make it harmless.  There's something seriously wrong with this country if this kind of behavior is seen as harmless teenage folly.