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Phelps: 3-Month Suspension Is Fair Punishment

Shamed Olympic champ accepts USA Swimming's decision

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 7, 2009 4:59 AM CST

(Newser) – Michael Phelps believes a 3-month suspension from USA Swimming is a fair enough price to pay for getting caught toking up, the AP reports. "Obviously, for a mistake you should get punished," said the acclaimed Olympic gold medalist. Phelps says he has been spending a lot of time in the pool, "training for who knows what yet."

USA Swimming said the punishment was made in collaboration with Phelps, and is not meant to serve as a precedent for other swimmers. The champ's coach said the ruling was not unexpected, but he will have to change his plans around as Phelps will now have just two months of competitive swimming to prepare for July's world championships in Rome.

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Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps walks towards reporters to answer question before training at the Meadowbrook Aquatic Center, Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps trains at the Meadowbrook Aquatic Center as he is filmed by cameramen, Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps pauses as he answers questions from reporters before training at the Meadowbrook Aquatic Center, Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps trains at the Meadowbrook Aquatic Center, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

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Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps talks about learning from his mistakes and his future career plans in a TV interview. (wbal)

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If that's they want to do, that's their choice. It's something that USA Swimming came up with. It's fair. Obviously, for a mistake you should get punished. - Michael Phelps on USA Swimming's decision to suspend him

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 6 comments

riffran

Feb 8, 2009 2:04 AM CST

although I could give a sh**......(just to be the devils advocate on this one)....I think celebrities that serve as role models should be held to a higher standard, this in addition to a lot of other proffesionals, such as Nurses , cops, firefighters, Doctors, THE PREZ. ect.....but then again......(to quote...lol) "All this over some weed?........When he does crack and or kills a bus load of nuns in a drunk driving accident, then make him a pariah

Guest

Feb 7, 2009 8:39 PM CST

I have to laugh when this stuff happens to sports figures... If some artistic-type is involved in a drug or sex scandal, it's always as if "well that's what those people do". But time after time when it happens to an athlete, it's always as if they're an exception to the rule... (When everyone knows athletes are AT LEAST as sleazy as any rock star.)

Guest

Feb 7, 2009 5:10 AM CST

this is so dumb, everybody smokes pot. just cuz hes on the wheaties boxes, and is the all american hero now... ridiculous.

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Phelps: 3-Month Suspension Is Fair Punishment