Hollywood Celebs Gossips

Michael Phelps Smoking Weed: Michael Phelps bong picture should be a shame for the great Olympian swimmer who has won 14 gold medals in two Olympics. Supposedly to visit the secret girlfriend Jordan Matthews who was in South Carolina attending the University of South Carolina last November, Michael Phelps was flimed holding and smoking a cannabis pipe, or bong, revealed UK’s News of The World. Needless to say, Michael Phelps smoking pot would soon dent not only his swimming career but also commercial endorsements! Wrong, Wrong, Wrong, Phelps are so wrong when smoking pot!

Update: Michael Phelps admitted smoking the cannabis:

“I engaged in behaviour 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.”

Apparently, Michael Phelps’s career and commercial endorsements now are in great peril:

Phelps’s career may now be tarnished beyond repair. Athletes caught using cannabis, a banned substance under rules set out by the World Anti-Doping Agency, could face a ban of up to two years.

[..]

The picture of Phelps, his baseball cap worn back to front, using a lighter to send smoke along his glass bong, emerged after a student party where the 6ft 4in swimmer was also claimed to have been drinking heavily, in stark contrast to his Olympic mantra, which was to swim, eat, sleep and swim again.

Phelps could claim that the drug has no performance-enhancing effects, which might allow the authorities to let him off with a reprimand. But such a high-profile case is bound to stir up controversy and the swimmer could find himself being made an example to the rest of the sporting fraternity.

Marketing experts are predicting massive fallout and a quick exit by sponsors who could put an end to Phelps’s dream of cashing in on his Olympic exploits to the tune of $100 million (£68.5m).

“If this is all true, it will be nothing short of a disaster,” John Taylor, chairman of Sports Impact, one of Britain’s leading sponsorship agencies, said. “Every sponsor has something called a disrepute clause written into their contracts and I will bet a few of them will be running through the small print first thing on Monday morning.

“Big corporate sponsors are very sensitive about any issues involving drugs, particularly if their product is bought by or directed at children. You cannot have any doubts about the personality you employ to promote your products.

“Sportsmen and women are naive to think that things like this will not come out and, when it does, it has a massive impact. Phelps was the hero of Beijing and a massive star in the United States. But what happens when America discovers their hero is tarnished? He may not be taking performance-enhancing drugs but this is a terrible stain on his image.” [Times Online]

Update: USA Swimming was disappointed by Phelps’ admission:

“We are certainly disappointed in Michael’s behavior. Our Olympic champions are role models who are looked up to by people of all ages, especially young athletes who have their own aspirations and dreams. That said, we realize that none among us is perfect. We hope that Michael can learn from this incident and move forward in a positive way.”

The US Olympic Committee also was disappointed by Phelps:

“We are disappointed in the behaviour recently exhibited by Michael Phelps.

“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. In this instance, regrettably, he failed to fulfill those responsibilities”.

“Michael has acknowledged that he made a mistake and apologized for his actions.

“We are confident that, going forward, Michael will consistently set the type of example we all expect from a great Olympic champion.”

Stay Strong!