Michael Phelps is being treated like any other people who have done wrong. He was brave enough to admit what he did and should now pay the consequences for his actions. While there are people who are saying that this is unfair and have even compared this to what Chris Brown did to Rhianna, those who have committed wrongdoing must atone for their punishment.

In the same way that I applaud some of the announcers of the South Florida Radio Station Y-100 for refusing to play Chris Brown recordings, I applaud the decision of the sponsors in dropping Michael Phelps. I also support the decision of the Governing Body of the United States Swimming Association and the United States Olympic Association to apply the necessary discipline so that there is an example.

The question is now whether Michael Phelps should go to the London 2012 Olympics in the wake of the Marijuana Photo Scandal. The rules of Sports that governs Great Britain prohibits those who used illegal drugs from ever competing under their banner. I wander if Great Britain will issue him a visa for the 2012 Olympics or will he banned. This is not the case of being the court, the jury, the judge, and the prosecutor.

This is a case of an athlete who won more Olympic Gold Medals than he can count, and was looked up to by those who watched the Olympics on television. This is an individual who was admired and respected throughout the world. He represented the United States of America and the country was presented to him on a platter. Why should he be given leniency? He chose to experiment with Marijuana and he has to pay the consequences.

Let us imagine that he was forced to smoke marijuana, he could have made the choice to say «No» and continue with his life. Instead, he chose to engage in reckless behaviour that will probably cost him financially as well as health wise. At the time that this article is being written, Network World has just reported that Michael Phelps did not show up at a speaking engagement in Las Vegas, Nevada sponsored by IBM.

The excuse presented by Michael Phelps was that he was «concentrating on swimming». The lame excuse must have been secondary to the fact that he has a guilt trip because of the marijuana scandal or that he still has some residual influence from it. Again this is my theory but IBM should drop him as a sponsor from any future engagements for his irresponsible behaviour.

Reference:

http://www.networkworld.com/ne ws/2009/021109-michael-phelps- ibm-speaking.html

http://www.helium.com/items/1336447-micheal-phelps-irresponsible