Michael Phelps and a bong? Is there any truth to this?

I really hope he serves a ban for this. For what reasons or under what rules? His biggest problem will be his sponsors.

I really feel bad for the guy. It has got to get old living your life under a microscope. For his own sake, I hope there is a consequence to this that will lead to him making changes in his lifestyle. The embarrassment from the DUI didn't do it. The last thing that I would want to see is for Michael to end up like Len Bias. I don't feel bad for him at all. He is getting paid $20M + to be a public figure and role model. For that kind of money he ought to be able to avoid a stupid college party. Cell phone cameras are everywhere so he cannot expect anyone to be any more kind to him in public than they are to any other celebrity. Yes he made a mistake - which we all do. They cost more for people like him - as it should. If he doesn't like the microscope then he should change course. Since he apparently hasn't broken any USA-S or FINA rules, and hasn't failed an in-competition drug test he doesn't deserve any swimming related sanctions.

I just tend to think that there are worse things in the world to do than smoke some pot. It is not something I do personally, but I have had friends throughout my adult life who have. I simply ask that they respect my home and not do it here. As long as they are not putting some one else in danger, then it is not my place to judge them. Everyone can be "disappointed" in him, but as far as mistakes go, his have been small compared to some of the shining examples we have in the media (Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Kobe Bryant...). I would argue that his DUI was more problematic than this one since someone could have been hurt then. But everyone is entitled to their opinion over this. I think if he fails a drug test now, he should be suspended. But if he doesn't, then I think you let him continue to compete, you just test him more. I still think having marijuana being a banned substance is stupid. The only sport it would be performance enhancing for is if you were a competitive eater. :bouncing:

WADA has already said that this isn't their issue. Weed can only result in a ban if it shows up in a test during a competition period. He didn't test positive durning a competition. He won't face a ban.

You are impressed he smoked weed? It clearly does matter that it was after the story broke. He's had since November to impress you before the story broke. So, now it's impressive to smoke weed, have your picture published doing that and admitting it is true. I don't think you are impressed but, impressionable. In the past three or four years he has received a DWI and been caught on film smoking pot. That wouldn't be so well received in my house. We all know he's probably the best swimmer ever but is certainly prone to massive errors in judgment, at best. Impressed that he came out and admitted so quickly instead of a Floyd Landis media circus.

I really hope he serves a ban for this. Wow, so I guess you never made a mistake huh? Never desrved a second chance? Judgemental much? Wishing bad things for people just because they made a mistake that, I might add, didn't cause harm to ANYONE, is not nice at all.

Man, this story is everywhere now. On Fox Sports there are already over 1500 comments about the article. Some of them are pretty funny, actually... ESPN too. I think most people kind of shrug their shoulders and take an attitude of who hasn't tried pot before. I think most his sponsors will keep him. I mean, afterall, it isn't like he was caught doing lines off a hookers back in Vegas. :D

Well, at least he admitted to doing what he did. It's certainly not a performance enhancing drug, but now you have to wonder if he crosses the line with this, why wouldn't he try something else? Like a harmless PED. The fan clubs are probably very disappointed. Not to mention the sponsors.

Yeah, these tabloids call Phelps a dope and everything under the sun but I am sure that these editors of these tabloids don't have a clean image themselves and then, they go pass judgment on these celebs. Look, the guy is not raping hotel staff so I think that the media needs to move on with more important issues in our society. No, it is not Jolie walking through an airport with her 55 kids. It kind of sucks for Phelps because the minute that he can have some fun in his life, it becomes a media firestorm. The guy had to be an adult when he was 15 when he made his first Olympic team. Also, could some of the food in his diet be more harmful than the material that was in that bong. I am just saying. Well said.

If alot of these publications aren't sure if this story is true, they shouldn't be reporting this story. This could be a false story that could hurt his reputation. I don't believe that his aides went to the News of the World to kill the story. They are only saying that to cover their butts.