If Michael Phelps lived in Massachusetts he would get a slap on the wrist and a $100 fine

February 6, 11:23 AMNew England Fitness ExaminerJo Levy

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Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

 Michael Phelps was suspended from competition for three months by USA Swimming, the latest fallout from a photo that showed the Olympic record holder with a a marijuana pipe - called a bong.

The sport's national governing body also cut off its financial support to Phelps for the same three-month period as of yesterday. It's really  too bad, One of our friend's daughter is a young swimmer. She came home from school crying.

"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 Colorado Springs-based federation said in a statement.

"Michael has voluntarily accepted this reprimand and has committed to earn back our trust."

Phelps won a record eight gold medals in Beijing and returned to America as one of the world's most acclaimed athletes. Now he's enduring a wave of bad news in the wake of the photo, published Sunday by News of the World, a British tabloid.

Earlier Thursday, cereal and snack maker Kellogg Co. announced it wouldn't renew its sponsorship contract with Phelps, saying his behavior is "not consistent with the image of Kellogg." The swimmer appeared on the company's cereal boxes after his Olympic triumph.

Phelps has acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment." He didn't dispute the authenticity of the photo, reportedly taken at a house party while Phelps was visiting Columbia, S.C., in November during an extended break from training.

Phelps, 23, is training in Baltimore, his home town.

"Enough is enough," said Evan Morgenstein, who represents a large number of Olympic swimmers. "The penalty is far greater than the crime. He has said he is sorry. Let's move on to the real problems in this country." I must agree.

Massachusetts recently made having an ounce or less of marijuana not a felony and not something that will show up on a criminal record. The most that will happen is a slap on the risk and maybe a $100 find. If Michael lived in MA and weren't famous i.e. a disappointment this wouldn't even make the news.