Michael Phelps was all wet Tuesday after being arrested for drunk driving in Baltimore City. A day later, the Olympic swimming champion isn’t looking much better as the full story begins to air out. Turns out, Phelps was gambling even before deciding to get behind the wheel of his 2014 Range Rover, and tested nearly twice the legal blood-alcohol limit.
TMZ Sports reports that just before his DUI, Phelps left the Horseshoe Casino. He reportedly put in an 8-hour shift playing blackjack (and, of course, drinking) in a private room. The site claims Phelps has been a “regular” at the casino since it opened in late August.
The Baltimore native was pulled over about 1:40 a.m. on I-95, just outside the Fort McHenry tunnel. MDTA Police clocked him driving at 84 mph in a 45 mph zone. Later, they arrested the 29-year-old on charges of DUI, excessive speeding and crossing double lane lines.
This afternoon, the Baltimore Sun’s Justin Fenton obtain a police report that confirms those and other details, including the fact that the result of Phelps’ breathalyzer test was .14. The legal limit is .08 in Maryland. According to Fenton’s reporting, Phelps was also asked to stand on one leg as part of the sobriety test, and replied, “That’s not happening.”
Phelps issued an apology after the incident, saying he was “deeply sorry to everyone” he let down. But the Baltimore Bullet has yet to elaborate on why he didn’t have a driver, or beam a car service like Uber, Lyft or a good old-fashioned cab. Longtime Phelps bro and swimming rival Ryan Lochte told TMZ, “He has so much money to get a driver. I even have a driver. Just stinks for the sport of swimming.”
Not to mention his hometown, where there were already more than enough tainted athlete stories to go around this season.
