Phelps has 14 olympic medals. And he smokes weed. Problem?

okay, so apparently this is a big story today. why? can't one of the greatest athletes of all time relax every once and a while? Not only is he not harming anyone, his occasional relaxing with beer and marijuana over the years (as has been reported before, by the way), most surely hasn't effected his utter domination of every and all swimming opponents or his obliterating of the record books in all swimming strokes and different competitive formats. Now, if smoking green is in violation of the OIC rules and/or other governing bodies, and rules him out for future events, next olympics, etc, then so be it. Rules are rules. And surely he's aware of those rules when he made/makes his choices. But enough with the uninformed, misguided and ignorant stigma and critiques that are too often associated with marijuana, and the people from all walks of life who chill out socially with it; almost everyone I know, chills out or partakes once in a while with beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, soda, coffee, cigars and/or more; most of which - if not all - are more harmful to people than marijuana is. Perhaps amongst the "aww, I really liked him," and "I am shocked - he seemed like such a good kid!," and all the other similar reactions we'll hear endlessly on this event, there will be a few reactions along these lines: "wow. he smokes marijuana and he's still far and away the greatest swimmer in the history of the world. how bad can it be?!"


Michael Phelps in Shocking Drug Scandal After Being Pictured Taking Hit from a Bong

Normally when you talk about Olympic athletes using drugs it is steroids or some type of supplement that can increase their performance in their sport. Michael Phelps, who dazzles the sports world last year, isn't exactly Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens when it comes to his drug of choice. The record breaking gold medalist, instead, has been snapped on camera taken a hit of a marijuana bong that was obtained by UK scandal sheet News of the World [1].

The picture was taken at a University of South Carolina party and, if it is proven that there that was in fact cannabis in the bong, Phelps would likely get sanctioned from the Olympic committee.

In the past few months, Phelps has been partying hard and having some insiders in the sport wondering if he can regain his world class athletic mantle with his lifestyle. In the the News of the World Report, they wrote:

One party-goer who witnessed the star’s behaviour told the News of the World: “He was out of control from the moment he got there.

“If he continues to party like that I’d be amazed if he ever won any more medals again.”

In 2004 after his Olympic glory in Greece, Phelps was popped for a DUI and sentenced to 18 months probation. After dominating this Olympic games, that scandal blew over and the swimming star was able to earn a number of endorsements. With this new allegation, the only thing that Phelps may now be able to advertise is an upcoming c film.

This isn't the first time that Phelps has made headlines for the wrong reasons.