All National Team members get financial support. He's had that national team stipend suspended. Probably will kick back in after three months.

Jason Marsteller
Swimming World Magazine

I wondered why USA Swimming is helping Phelps out now also...with or without the drug matter. He obviously doesn't need help. $1700 per month is not chicken feed!

Brock MacLean
Vancouver, Canada

America is a bunch of Hypocrites to attack this man.

First, Alcohol related deaths number 3x more than 9/11 attacks (including soldiers in IRAQ) - every year.

Second, Pot is the "number 1" cash crop in America (despite the DEA). And is actually legal in California (with a medical pass - no hard to get either)

Once this country gets it's head out of it's ass, we could actually regulate the sale of marijuana AND elevate some stress on states by providing a billion dollar revenue PLUS reduce the influence of dealers from other countries.

When was the last time you saw two guys beating the snot out of each other in bar while being stones? NEVER.

I want them to give me a stipend, but I'm a bit lazy about all the training.

We have a president who was a cokehead in his younger days. What's the big deal?

Oh my goodness, he's human after all!
Leave him alone. Anyone that focused
and that successful on one thing his
whole childhood is bound to get a bit
wild once he's achieved that goal,
I'm relieved to find out he's not perfect.

We need to stop being so darn judge-
mental..

How about a little forgiveness instead?

Now that would be a refreshing change for our society.

It comes as no surprise that a young man, such as Michael Phelps, who's been thrust into celebrity status, might make a mis-step or two while believing himself immune to scrutiny, when the model in America is to continue rewarding atheletes who behave incorribibly. How many celebrity atheletes continue to be rewarded (and idolized) despite inappropriate behaviors such as doing/dealing drugs, shootings, and sexual misconduct! Too many!

Smoking a little pot is a small infraction in the scheme of things. Michael's judgement, however, was poor in view of the unique position he holds in popular and sports culture. He's got some repair work to do. I wish him the best.

What on earth is the big deal about Michael Phelps smoking pot? Personally, I think that alcohol should be outlawed and that marijuana should be legalized. Kellogs and USA Swimming are hypocrites - unless they also stop supporting every single athlete who gets drunk and get into bar fights, get drunk and beat their wives, get drunk and rape people, get drunk and murder people with their cars, get drunk and abuse their kids and animals, etc. I won't be able to take them seriously. It's a rediculous double standard to punish people who peacefully smoke pot and do absolutely nothing wrong when alcoholism and stupidity are so ignorantly revered in our culture.

USA swimming should be DQ'ed. Why the heck is USA swimming getting involved in this? Sure, if they want to stop paying him, fine, stop. But a three month suspension? For what? Taking performance enhancing drugs...marijuana?

Too much bureaucracy, too little judgment.

Regardless of one's position on marijuana and whether or not it should be legal, I think that this incident drives home the fact that the most effective and fitting endorsements for Phelps to make are ones more properly aligned with who he is as a person (taking the young age and high chance that he will likely be involved with what will at least considered uncouth by man). And he did actually have a DUI after his first Olympics, so Kellogg's should have and probably did factor that in when they decided to endorse him.

Dr. Tantillo, who has a marketing blog, made the point that "Honesty is the most important aspect of any personal brand." and suggests the following approach to managing Phelps' brand (his agency, Octagon, is definitely in need of a few pointers):

"...reinforce that he is basically a good guy who has overcome many challenges (and still struggles with a few) and is still young. He can even speak more openly about the challenges of living with ADD (which can help educate and also help explain his occasional gaffes)."

Full blog post

Michael Phelps is a superb athlete and person who happens to have/had ADHD. When he was younger, the doctors put him on Ritalin for years which is a much dangerous drug than marijuana. Why was not a big deal? Because, it is "legalized drug". Now that he has achieved almost in-human levels of success in his hyperfocused choice of activity and he is off Ritalin but not necessarily free of ADHD, it is only normal that he was attracted to marijuana... Most probably his brain and body needed that calming effect. The media should STOP the bashing NOW so he can get back to being himself again. Michael does have the character and strength to overcome any controversy and he is very lucky to have a mother who supports him.

I think that Michael Phelps should say good bye to US swiming and join a Canadian team or The Nethaerlands team. At least there he can smoke POT.

Also maybe Obama should consider an early pardon, so that we can put this behind us.

Cali can give Phelps a medicinal pot.

Call it day.

Boycott Kelloggs!!!!! Whats worrse eating all that sugar or smoking a little pot?

I wondered the same thing about the stipend. Once an athlete achieves financial success, it would seem that the stipend should be discontinued.

I will be disappointed in Michael Phelps if he lets this episode in his life end his swimming career. I think he's handled this mistake as well as it can be in admitting the photo was legitimate and that his actions were "regrettable" - and for being rather humble about all the fall out.

He has a lot to offer the nation in both his swimming abilities and winning for the country - but also in showing the public - adults and children - that you don't let these things defeat you, but continue to persevere. If he quits now, this will define him.

He was a bright spot in a difficult year and I am hopeful we'll continue to have the pleasure of seeing him compete in the future. Just proves even our heroes are human!

Phelpsie needs some bros that can close the door for him. Why didn't they cover his back and slam the frat-punk with the camera. C'mon Phlepsie! get a proper crew!