The recent firestorm surrounding Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps continues to have fallout for the hero athlete. He admitted over the weekend that he had smoked marijuana at a party in November 2008.
Phelps found out yesterday that he has been suspended for three months from competitive swimming by its governing body, USA Swimming. They have also withdrawn their financial support for the athlete.
In a statement yesterday, they said:
“This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero. Michael has voluntarily accepted this reprimand and has committed to earn back our trust.”
Earlier in the day Thursday, the Kellogg Company said it will not renew Phelps’ advertising contract. “Michael’s recent behavior is not consistent with the image of Kellogg. His contract expires at the end of February, and we have made a decision not to extend it.”
To add further to Phelps’ woes, the Richland County South Carolina sheriff’s department is looking into whether Phelps smoked marijuana on the University of South Carolina campus. They plan to file criminal charges if it is determined that he did.
Phelps has endorsement contracts with a significant number of top branded companies. No word yet on whether they will follow Kellogg’s lead and sever ties with the winner of 14 Olympic gold medals.
More photos below.