Michael Phelps suspended for three months

What happened to the US Swimming Champion Michael Phelps? Maybe fame and popularity never sink in in his nerves. He is a Record-breaking Olympic champion who has been suspended for three months by USA Swimming after a published photograph appeared to show him smoking marijuana. The national governing body of the sport stressed that the punishment was not for a doping violation, but said they wanted to send a "strong message" to Phelps about his status as a role model for young people. "USA Swimming has reprimanded Michael Phelps under its Code of Conduct by withdrawing financial support and the eligibility to compete for a period of three months effective today, February 5," said a statement issued late Thursday.
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," the statement added. Phelps had been expected to return to competition for the first time since the Olympics at a USA Swimming Grand Prix meeting in Austin, Texas in early March.
Now he won't be able to race until May. That would still allow him to compete at the US National Championships in Indianapolis in July, the qualifying meet for the World Championships in Rome July 18-August 2. The photo was taken at a university party in South Carolina in November. In the glow of that success Phelps said he would return for the 2012 Olympics in London, but he indicated to the Baltimore Sun that the bruising publicity he has received this week could prompt him to reconsider.