Swimming superstar Michael Phelps apologized for "bad judgment" after a British tabloid published a photo of the Olympian sucking on a cannabis pipe at a college party.
Phelps, who has won more Olympic gold medals than any other athlete, didn't discuss the authenticity of the photo and instead issued an apology to The Associated Press.
"I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said in the statement.
While Phelps was in damage control Sunday, many analysts were predicting that the photo's fallout could cost the 14-time gold medalist millions of dollars in endorsement deals.
"I'm 23-years-old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again."
The tabloid News of the World said that the photo was snapped last November, three months after Phelps won eight gold medals at the Summer Games in Beijing.
According to the paper, the photo was taken at a student party around the same time Phelps appeared at the University of South Carolina. During his visit, Phelps had been given a standing ovation at a college football game.
Though it wasn't clear if Phelps was in fact smoking marijuana, the newspaper spoke to an anonymous party guest who said the swimmer was "out of control from the moment he got there."
While marijuana isn't considered a performance-enhancing drug, it is unacceptable under World Anti-Doping guidelines and can lead to a two-year competition ban.
No banned substances have ever been found in Phelps' blood during testing, and the photo was reportedly taken during a long training break.
Phelps returned to his rigorous training schedule about two weeks ago to prepare for the world championships, which will be held in Rome this summer. He is also set to compete in a Grand Prix swim meet in Texas this March.
Over the weekend, Phelps was scheduled to make several sponsorship appearances in Tampa Bay, Fla., for the Super Bowl. However, he left the city before kickoff and pulled out of plans to attend the game.
Photo could cost Phelps lucrative sponsorships
Howard Bloom, who runs sportsbusinessnews.com, said the photo could be incredibly costly for Phelps, who is a multi-millionaire with several lucrative endorsement deals.
"It's the second major slip on a banana for Michael Phelps," Bloom told Â鶹´«Ã½net on Sunday.
Shortly after wining six gold and two bronze medals at the 2004 Athens Games, police arrested Phelps for driving drunk. Then 19, Phelps pleaded guilty to the charges and issued a public apology.
"Here's the thing to remember about Michael Phelps," Bloom said. "He chose to win all those gold medals and as a result, earn tens of millions of dollars in endorsement potential."
"But I'm sure you have to accept responsibility for your actions, and indeed, there might be quite the price to pay."
With files from The Associated Press
