Michael Phelps suspended: Phelps suspended by USA Swimming

USA swimming officials have suspended Michael Phelps. No one was surprised, as the suspension of Michael Phelps is all but expected following the publication of a picture of the Olympic champion using a bong (a device used to smoke marijuana) last week. The suspension takes effect immediately and will last for three months, banning him from competition and temporarily snuffing his preparations for the world championships later in the year. As a result, he won’t be able to compete until early May, which would give him a little more than two months for some racing before July’s world championships in Rome. But that's not all, as part of the suspension, the sport’s national

governing body also cut off its financial support to Michael Phelps for the same three-month period, effective immediately. USA Swimming provides a monthly stipend of $1,750.00 to national team members for travel and training expenditures, plus performance bonuses. However, it’s a small percentage of the millions Phelps makes through endorsements.

But those endorsements may be in peril as well. Though some of his sponsors have stated earlier that they will continue to support Michael Phelps (Speedo is one of them), cereal and snack maker Kellogg announced it wouldn’t renew its sponsorship contract with Michael Phelps, pointing to the marijuana controversy as the cause. They stated that his behavior is “not consistent with the image of Kellogg.” The swimmer appeared on the company’s cereal boxes after his Olympic triumph.

This was also part of the reason by USA Swimming suspended Michael Phelps. “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,” the governing body of swimming said in a statement.

In early 2009, Phelps admitted to "behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment" following the publication of a photo in a British tabloid that showed him using a bong, a device used for smoking marijuana. As a result of his actions, the Richland County Sheriff's Department announced they were investigating to determine if Phelps could be charged with a crime, USA Swimming suspended Phelps from swimming competitively for three months, and Kellogg's announced that they would not renew his endorsement contract.

While the fallout from the Michael Phelps marijuana photo continues, friends and family likewise continued their support for the Olympic champion. Several teammates have expressed support for Michael Phelps, stating that he is just human and is prone to mistakes and occasional bad judgment like the rest of us. They are united in the hope that this controversy will teach the 14-gold medal winner a lesson and that this will spur him to do better, both in life and in the sport.