Michael Phelps announced he was admitting himself to rehab on Sunday. Turns out, it was just the first lap of his post-DUI comeuppance. On Monday, USA Swimming hit the Baltimore native with a suspension.
Phelps will be suspended from competition for six months, and won’t be able to compete in the 2015 World Championship meet. While his racing trunks are hung up, Phelps won’t be able to collect a monthly stipend from USA Swimming, either.
Phelps said Sunday that he would take a break from swimming after being arrested for drunk driving near the Fort McHenry tunnel last week. But according to the Baltimore Sun, Phelps was alluding to a six-week rehab program in that statement.
The much longer ban from competition seems like a harsher punishment than the 29-year-old was willing to give himself, and could provide grounds for sponsors to end their relationship with Phelps, as well. Still, the discipline will not keep the record-setting champion, who is undeniably the face of the sport, from appearing for what could be a final turn in the world spotlight at the 2016 Olympics. See what they did there?
