Key sponsors Speedo, Omega back Michael Phelps after apology for marijuana pipe photo

Hartford Courant ^ | Feb. 2, 2009

[Wolfie]

Key sponsors Speedo, Omega back Michael Phelps after apology for marijuana pipe photo

Two of Michael Phelps' leading sponsors expressed support for the Olympic great Monday, a day after he apologized for being photographed in a British newspaper inhaling from a marijuana pipe. Luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega termed Phelps' actions a private matter and "nonissue." Swim wear manufacturer Speedo called the 23-year-old American a "valued member of the Speedo team."

Phelps acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after the photo appeared Sunday in the tabloid News of the World.

Speedo gave Phelps a $1 million bonus for his record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. Phelps joined Speedo in 2001, a year after making his Olympic debut in Sydney. He dominated the Beijing Games in the company's high-tech LZR Racer suit.

"In light of Michael Phelps' statement yesterday, Speedo would like to make it clear that it does not condone such behavior and we know that Michael truly regrets his actions," Speedo, which is based in Nottingham, said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Related links PHELPS Photo "Michael Phelps is a valued member of the Speedo team and a great champion. We will do all that we can to support him and his family."

Omega said it was "strongly committed" to its relationship with Phelps, calling his Beijing accomplishments "among the defining sporting achievements in the history of sport."

"The current story in the press involves Michael Phelps' private life and is, as far as Omega is concerned, a nonissue," the company said.

The News of the World said the picture was taken during a November house party while Phelps was visiting the University of South Carolina. Under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, an athlete is subject to sanctions only for a positive test during competition periods.

"Michael Phelps is a great Olympic champion," the International Olympic Committee said in a statement to the AP. "He apologized for his inappropriate behavior. We have no reason to doubt his sincerity and his commitment to continue to act as a role model."

[1rudeboy]

Whew. I guess it’s still ok to smoke dope and wear my banana-hammock.

[Recon Dad]

If I were him I would clean up my act real fast.

[cripplecreek]

LOL. Thank God for small miracles huh?

[autumnraine]

President Obama smokes weed, it’s all cool man.

A 23 year old guy does and it’s all hysterical.

[Darwin Fish]

I was a competitive swimmer way back when. Let me tell you, we all got high as a kite very often. This is in Michigan.

Think about it—swimming literally miles at a time, it is almost Zen like, paddling and turning, and paddling and turning. You are alone, but next to guys (and gals), in a trance-like state as you do mile after mile. What do you think about, what do you do to while away the time as hours pile by?

Yup, we all got high. In High school, on our state winning team, at least half of us got high all the time. We set records.

Of the top 6 of us or so that were the best, all of us got high regularly. Heck, we smoked doobies in the morning, at lunch break, and right before practice. And usually after.

And most of us could swim underwater for 75 yards without a breath.

We also “corrupted” other swimmers by introducing them to the fine doobie ville.

Today? I am a VP developing medical devices for a living. And at least half of the folks I deal with have done pot at one time or another. Including a bunch of gov’t folks. I could name CEO’s of multiple companies that get high regularly. And their science is perfect, and you take their medicines and use their products every day. Including pacemakers, stents, valve replacement systems, heart pumps, and too many to name.

And I can still swim underwater far longer than you can.

It’s the alcoholics that you have to worry about.

[Kimmers]

I hope he can clean up his act, he has been smoking if for a few years, he has been forgiven this time but he won’t the second.....

[Linda Liberty]

To quote Andrew Stuttaford:

In the meantime, I merely note that this broken wreck of a man’s failure to win any more than a pathetic fourteen Olympic gold medals (so far) is a terrifying warning of the horrific damage that cannabis can do to someone’s health—and a powerful reminder of just how sensible the drug laws really are.

[Uri’el-2012]

What other drugs has Michael Phelps used ?

[microgood]

A 23 year old guy does and it’s all hysterical.

I have heard freepers wail about this and yet their hero Sarah Palin smoked pot. I guess she is a total loser as well.

Meanwhile, half the cops joining the Atlanta police department have smoke pot recently and admitted same.

[Wolfie]

Alcohol for sure.

[autumnraine]

He has severe ADD (as his mother said swimming was his saving grace). A lot people with this disorder do turn to pot later in life.

[RobinOfKingston]

There are other kids out here who are watching this and thinking they can get away with it, too.

[Yossarian]

(Talk of much swimming & toking deleted.)

Today? I am a VP developing medical devices for a living. And at least half of the folks I deal with have done pot at one time or another.

And then there's the counter-examples:

Charles Rogers

Ricky Williams

New Drivers of the Presidential Limo

(Well, actually Cheech pulled out of things OK. Tommy, though....)

Including a bunch of gov’t folks.

That would explain a lot...

I could name CEO’s of multiple companies that get high regularly.

And I could point out about 4 people I saw here in the Silicon Valley that went from being sharp, highly knowledgeable PhD-level engineers to being pot-addicted garden gnomes.

I've done lots of swimming, too - I swam Alcatraz, and that involves spending a hell of a lot of time at the pool. It's true that it's a surreal existence (especially the 50 meter pool at night), but I never felt the urge to light up some mary jane. Hell - I'm hungry enough after a long session in the pool!

I'm of the opposite opinion - I've seen a lot of productive alcoholics, but a lot of brain-dead potheads. Neither is a behavior worth bragging about.

[Rebelbase]

TMI!

[SweetLanaLiberty]

Disgusting. And I’m sure he’ll continue to get a pass for all future bad behavior. The excuse I keep hearing is that “most people” do it. No way. I haven’t. My husband hasn’t. I imagine most conervatives and Christians have it, and we are in the majority in this country.

[halfers]

osama obama also snorted cocaine...not a problem for liberals.

[Rebelbase]

“There are other kids out here who are watching this and thinking they can get away with it, too.”

It’s more like they are laughing at Phelps because he got caught. Dope smokers are everywhere.

[LoveUSA]

So I should tell my soon-to-be 20 year old daughter that the reason she’s not swimming fast like the other kids on her team is because she refuses to smoke dope with them.

Uhhhhh, I don’t think so.

[montanajoe]

I would think this is purely a marketing move. The folks buying Speedo’s are probably not the same folks who have a problem with this so they will keep him, hell this might even make him more valuable...