Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, October 6. In response to Michael Phelps’ second DUI arrest in 10 years, Phelps is no longer on the 2015 World Championship Team in an agreement with USA Swimming. Meanwhile, USA Swimming has also banned Phelps from competition until April 6, 2015 – a six-month ban.
While the competition ban isn’t as impactful as it might have been, Phelps being pulled from the Worlds roster is significant in that he will now have to focus all of his competitive efforts on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, without any major litmus tests on where he is at against the rest of the world.
Phelps also lost his USA Swimming National Team monthly stipend throughout the suspension period, but that’s not as huge of a hit as the withdrawal from the Worlds roster.
As far as the competition ban, he will miss Winter Nationals, and the first two stops of the Arena Grand Prix in Austin and Orlando. But, he will be back in the saddle in time for the home stretch of the Arena Grand Prix, starting with the Mesa stop. That’s ironic, considering that’s the meet where he returned from his 18-month retirement. For a motivation machine that finds his best self in routine, he’ll be going through much of the same return motions next year in Mesa.
USA Swimming released the following statement explaining the move.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Swimming announced today that, due to a violation of the organization’s Code of Conduct, Michael Phelps (Baltimore, Md.) will be suspended from USA Swimming-sanctioned competition for six months, withdraw from the 2015 FINA World Championships Team and forfeit his funding from the NGB for six months.
Phelps’ discipline is set forth under Section 304.3.19 of the 2014 Rule Book, which states “Any other material and intentional act, conduct or omission not provided for above, which is detrimental to the image or reputation of USA Swimming, a LSC or the sport of swimming.”
As a result, USA Swimming has taken the following actions:
· Six-Month Suspension from Competition. Phelps will be permitted to train with his member club, but shall be ineligible to participate in USA Swimming-sanctioned competitions through April 6, 2015.
· Withdrawal from the 2015 World Championship Team. Phelps and USA Swimming each agree that Phelps will not represent the United States at the 2015 FINA World Swimming Championships in Kazan, Russia, from August 2-9.
· Forfeiture of USA Swimming’s Monthly Stipend. The monthly payments from USA Swimming will be halted during the six-month suspension period.
“Membership in USA Swimming, and particularly at the National Team level, includes a clear obligation to adhere to our Code of Conduct. Should an infraction occur, it is our responsibility to take appropriate action based on the individual case. Michael’s conduct was serious and required significant consequences,” USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus said. “Michael has publicly acknowledged the impact of his decisions, his accountability especially due to his stature in the sport and the steps necessary for self-improvement. We endorse and are here to fully support his personal development actions.”
The measures were approved by the USA Swimming Executive Committee and take effect immediately.
Phelps still has to worry about the judicial system, with his court date to face five counts in Maryland coming in about a month. He faces up to a year in jail for blowing nearly twice the limit for his blood alcohol level as well as going 84 miles per hours in a 45 mile per hour zone on his way back from an eight-hour gambling marathon.
With Phelps qualifying in the 100 free, 100 fly and 200 IM at the 2015 World Championships, USA Swimming could be looking at tacking on some extra work to those who already made the roster.
The USOC also weighed in with the following statement from U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun:
“We think the sanctions are appropriate and we are glad that Michael is seeking help. We are grateful that nobody was hurt and appreciate the speed at which USA Swimming and Michael took action.”
You don’t know what the correct use of ‘ironic’ is.
C’mon Michael…..really? Grow up already….how many kids around the world did you let down by doing this????? Was it worth it????????
Well said
his aunt works at the same place I do. We have been told how great he is. She even downed people who drank. Did drugs. The past few days she has been at work with her door shut so people could not talk to her. Big ass fake.
“impactful” “ironic” “with no major litmus test”??? Horrid writing. The litmus test that he could use, by the way, is called a timer. This way he clocks his training and practice times against other clocked times. Are you mentally challenged?
Not saying that one or the other punishment is too harsh or to weak, but Japan suspended the World/Asian champ Naoya Tomita for 17 months for stealing a camera at this year’s Asian game. Michael got 6 months for driving almost twice the speed limit with about twice the legal limit of alcohol in his body; just a big difference how different countries look at things.
Has anyone considered having empathy for or to educate themselves on
what addiction is and that his behavior may be following such a pattern? The guy needs to seek out the right help. It is easy to hold judgement when you don’t understand addiction. You are lucky to not have to experience it! Please hold your judgement and see all sides. The guy is greatt!! … And has done great things…but he is still human like all of us and he may possibly have inherited a not so great genetic condition.