Michael Phelps may be in a little trouble with the Olympic committee for the leaked picture of his Louis Vuitton ad taken by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz.
It is against Olympic committee rules to appear in an ad so soon after competition, and if found in violation of the rules punishment could range from fines to being stripped of his medals.
We posted the picture last week, which came from our friends at shopping site Racked, but ABC News reports they were originally published on the LA Times and Paper Mag websites.
The Olympic committee forbids athletes from participating in advertising from July 18 to Aug 15 to prevent non-sponsors from benefitting from the popularity of the games. Louis Vuitton intended to release the ad on August 16.
Neither Phelps nor LV leaked the pictures, so it is unlikely Phelps will be held responsible, Yahoo Sports reports.
It is against Olympic committee rules to appear in an ad FOR A COMPANY THAT DOESN’T PAY MILLIONS (BILLIONS?) TO BE AN OFFICIAL OLYMPIC SPONSOR so soon after competition, and if found in violation of the rules punishment could range from fines to being stripped of his medals.