Feb 2, 2009 12:21 pm US/Eastern
Fans React To Photo Of Phelps Smoking From A Bong
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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A photo of Michael Phelps inhaling from a marijuana pipe appeared on the British tabloid Sun's Web site, NewsOfTheWorld.co.uk, on Feb. 2, 2009.
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He's an Olympic hero, but his status as a role model could be in jeopardy.
Mike Schuh reports on Michael Phelps drawing criticism after a photo is released which shows him using a bong.
Baltimore's Olympic hometown hero acknowledges what he calls "regrettable behavior caught on camera."
Phelps admits that it is him seen smoking from a marijuana pipe in
a photograph published by the British newspaper News of the World.
The paper says the photo was taken at a house party when Phelps visited the University of South Carolina in November, three months after he won his record-setting eight gold medals in Beijing.
In a written statement released by his agent Phelps acknowledges, "I engaged in behavior 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."
However, this is not the first time Phelps has had to apologize to his fans. In 2004, the then 19-year-old rising star was arrested and later plead guilty to a drunken driving charge.
"I have already learned from this experience. I will pass this along to others who even think about making the same mistake that I made," Phelps said then.
As a person who represents some big sponsors, ad agency executive Allan Charles doesn't think this photo will affect Phelps' lucrative endorsement deals.
"It wouldn't stop me from using him for one of our clients," he said.
He suggests the situation is a tough privacy lesson for Phelps to learn.
"Long term, if he had tremendous drug and alcohol problems, it could hurt him. But right now at 23 it's an indiscretion. Get by it, let's get over it. We've got much bigger problems in the world right now," said Charles.
But some people, including many parents, argue Phelps is a role model for a lot of children and say the photo sends a bad message.
"If you hit that kind of stature it's a sort of responsibility if you are going to take the fame to be a role model. It's kind of disappointing," said one parent.
Many of the people who WJZ talked to in the Fells Point neighborhood where Phelps lived were not bothered.
One defender of Phelps said, "He's just an athlete. I don't think we should make athletes role models."
Still there are those who say Phelps' mistake is part of his growing up.
"It's probably pretty normal for someone his age to be partying and meeting girls and occasionally smoking some marijuana and I think he probably needs to be cut a break," added one Phelps fan.
Phelps has never before tested positive for banned substances during the Olympics.
A statement from the Olympic Committee says they are disappointed in Phelps who they say is admired and respected by young people.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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