[kcvl]

Drink has got Phelps into trouble before. In 2004, aged 19, he got 18 months probation for driving while under the influence.

He once described his life, saying: “All you do is eat, sleep, swim; eat, sleep, swim; eat, sleep, swim.”

Last night Phelps’ management team and the sporting world closed ranks over the scandal.

Spokesman Clifford Bloxham offered us an extraordinary deal not to publish our story, saying Phelps would become our columnist for three years, host events and get his sponsors to advertise with us.

In return, he asked that we kill Phelps’ bong picture. Bloxham said: “It’s seeing if something potentially very negative for Michael could turn into something very positive for the News of the World.”

He stressed that the swimmer had taken 1,500 drug tests and never failed one.

Until now?

http://tinyurl.com/cdkcnk

[sharkhawk]

I was a competitive swimmer through college, not nearly at his level, but good enough to particpate in senior national and NCAA college championship (DIV III) meets. Had several friends who were close to national team level. Believe me, there is nothing like the parties that go on after the last final. The Wheaton college team used to send their coach in a van to take their swimmers home so they wouldn't be tempted.
Basically during the season, you are focused on swimming, spending 4 hours in the pool and one in the weight room every day, and once the season ends you have a couple of months until the next season starts. Almost every senior level swimmer I knew partaked.