Can You Say, “Oops”?

It almost doesn’t matter whether or not Michael Phelps inhaled. Unfortunately for the swimming sensation, he’s learning a hard lesson about privacy in the Internet age. In case you haven’t already heard, the 23-year-old winner of eight gold medals in Beijing was photographed taking a hit from a bong — or at least it looks like he’s taking a hit from a bong in the illustration that accompanies this article in The Times Online. Phelps has already released a statement apologizing for his behavior, as the newspaper reports:

“I engaged in behaviour which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I’m 23 years old and despite the successes I’ve had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again,” Phelps said in a statement.

The statement pretty much hits the nail on the head. For most 23-year-olds, this would be a youthful indiscretion, one that wouldn’t cause too much problems for them. Unless, of course, it came to the attention of a prospective employer with a zero-tolerance approach to recreational drugs. When you’re a star athlete, whose picture has appeared worldwide, and who’s got sponsorship contracts with major corporation, you’re held to an entirely different standard. And that would be: Beyond reproach.

We, as a culture, tend to put our star athletes on a pedestal. The danger in doing so, however, is that they are only human, and at some point that fact will come painfully to light. For Michael Phelps, it happened today, although the photograph in question appears to have been taken at least a couple of months ago.

At least one marketing expert sees a potential for disaster for Phelps. Again, from The Times Online:

“If this is all true, it will be nothing short of a disaster,” John Taylor, chairman of Sports Impact, one of Britain’s leading sponsorship agencies, said. “Every sponsor has something called a disrepute clause written into their contracts and I will bet a few of them will be running through the small print first thing on Monday morning.

“Big corporate sponsors are very sensitive about any issues involving drugs, particularly if their product is bought by, or directed, at children. You cannot have any doubts about the personality you employ to promote your products.

“Sportsmen and women are naive to think that things like this will not come out and, when it does, it has a massive impact. Phelps was the hero of Beijing and a massive star in the United States. But what happens when America discovers their hero is tarnished? He may not be taking performance-enhancing drugs but this is a terrible stain on his image.”

According to the London paper, Phelps could be facing disciplinary action from the World Anti-Doping Agency. That’s not quite right. If he had been smoking dope during the Olympics, and he’d tested positive for cannabis, he would have faced a sanction. That’s because THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, is a substance that is banned during competition. It is not, however, banned out of competition, as The New York Times correctly notes:

Under the current World Anti-Doping Agency code, cannabis is not considered a banned substance during out-of-competition testing. Athletes face suspension only if they test positive for it at a competition.

Karen Crouse, the reporter for the New York paper, adds some detail about when and where the photos were taken.

The News of the World [who originally published photos of Phelps using a bong] said the photograph was taken in November, during a house party Phelps attended while visiting the University of South Carolina on the weekend of Nov. 8. While there, he attended the Gamecocks’ football game against Arkansas and received a rousing ovation when he was introduced.

And, of course, the US Olympic Committee has already expressed its disappointment, as Crouse reports;

In a statement, the United States Olympic Committee said it was “disappointed in the behavior recently exhibited by Michael Phelps,” describing him as a role model who was “well aware of the responsibilities and accountability that come with setting a positive example for others, particularly young people.”

It’s a real shame to see Phelps caught up in a situation like this, which was entirely preventable. But it also serves as a cautionary tale. When you’re in the spotlight, you’re always in the spotlight. And, although it’s unfair that we place our star athletes on high pedestals and hold them to high standards, if one is going to be a role model, one has to accept the scrutiny that comes with it.

I’m a big fan of Phelps, and of swimming in general. One good thing that can be said in all of this is that he responded quickly and appropriately. My own belief is that the best approach is, if you’ve made a mistake it’s best to take responsibility for your actions. People are more willing to forgive someone who’s willing to admit his mistakes than they are to forgive someone who stonewalls in the face of clear evidence of some sort of wrong-doing or misbehavior. Phelps handled that part of his current crisis correctly. Time will tell just how big a price he will wind up paying.