Michael Phelps, 14-time Olympic champion, is a dope fiend?!

Anyone who knows of my interest in competitive swimming will appreciate my profound dismay over the following:

Michael Phelps may have disqualified himself not only from making millions more as a sports hero but also from adding to his stash of 14 Olympic gold medals in 2012. Because this picture of him taking a hit off a bong might force advertisers to avoid him like a plague and compel the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to make an example of him.

(The IOC has instituted a four-year ban for anyone caught taking a banned substance. But his lawyer will undoubtedly argue that Phelps was not in competition and never tested positive. Moreover, that, despite what the picture shows, like former President Bill Clinton, he didn’t inhale….) 

Of course, with all they have invested in, and can still make off, this greatest Olympian of all time, I suspect advertisers and the IOC will do all they can to give Phelps a pass. For example, the IOC could ban him from competition for two or three years – claiming it’s only his first offense, and he would still be eligible to compete in 2012.

Meanwhile, the inconvenient fact that he was caught on candid camera engaging in an illegal act will be overlooked by all interested parties.  But Phelps is lucky he wasn’t caught taking this hit during his 18-months probation for DUI, which he received in December 2004. Because this would have triggered far more dire consequences than losing sponsors and medals. At any rate, it is instructive to note what he promised the judge, his advertisers and his fans back then:

I recognize the seriousness of this mistake. I’ve learned from this mistake and will continue learning from this mistake for the rest of my life.

This, alas, renders patently contrived the apology his PR people will no doubt issue for this latest “mistake.” 

But frankly, I see nothing wrong with adults smoking dope or using any recreational drug of choice. In fact, I believe all drugs should be decriminalized. Nevertheless, if you’re 23-year-old Michael Phelps and you know full well the professional recriminations of smoking marijuana, then you’re an idiot to show up at a house party at the University of South Carolina (on November 6, 2008) and proceed to get wasted like an idle-minded 18-year-old kid.

You could tell Michael had smoked before. He grabbed the bong and a lighter and knew exactly what to do.

(Witness to this Olympian feat in bad judgment)

For the record, marijuana and other social drugs were added to the IOC’s list of banned substances in 1998 after a Canadian snowboarder tested positive for marijuana at the Nagano, Japan Winter Games.

It is not doping, which deals with the performance of athletes. But I think it’s an ethical point, a point of principal, and we have a duty to fight against it.

(Juan Antonio Samaranch then head of the IOC)

Stay tuned…

UPDATE

February 2, 9:00 AM

Phelps apologizes and USOC gives him a pass

Just as I predicted, Phelps has issued a self-flagellating and self-serving statement acknowledging the error of his ways and promising never to do it again. But I’m sure he really means it this time…:

I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment… 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.

Even more cynical, however, is the statement the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) issued in his defense:

We are disappointed in the behavior recently exhibited by Michael Phelps… Michael is a role model … and 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.

There’s no denying, however, that the only thing that inspires the USOC’s confidence in Phelps is Kaching! Kaching! After all, Phelps is even more indispensable to the USOC-  when it comes to attracting public interest and corporate sponsors – than Tiger Woods is to the PGA.

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