COLUMBIA, S.C — Michael Phelps can inhale a breath of fresh air.
The champion swimmer will not be charged after a photo captured him smoking a marijuana pipe at a South Carolina party, The Associated Press reports.
COLUMBIA, S.C — Michael Phelps can inhale a breath of fresh air.
The champion swimmer will not be charged after a photo captured him smoking a marijuana pipe at a South Carolina party, The Associated Press reports.
Soon after Phelps’ controversial photo was published in a British newspaper on Feb. 1, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced that an investigation was underway. However, Lott told AP on Monday that he didn’t have enough physical evidence to charge the Olympic star.
“We had a photo and we had him saying he was sorry for his inappropriate behavior. That behavior could’ve been going to a party,” explained Lott.
“He never said, ‘I smoked marijuana.’ He never confessed that,” the sheriff added.
The photo in question was snapped while the 23-year-old Phelps attended a party last November. He immediately issued a public apology, calling the incident “regrettable.”
The fallout led to Phelps being suspended by USA Swimming for three months, in addition to him losing a sponsorship contract with Kellogg Co.
After today’s announcement, Phelps once again expressed how disappointed he was in himself.
“For me, it’s all about recognizing that I used bad judgment and it’s a mistake I won’t make again,” he said in a statement. “For young people especially — be careful about the decisions you make. One bad decision can really hurt you and the people you care about. I really appreciate the support my family and fans have shown me.”
