Pubdate: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 Source: Beacon Herald, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2009 Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/ytFEC49J Website: http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1459 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/michael+phelps HOLDING HIS HEAD HIGH There are tempests in teapots; then there are people so mistakenly obsessed with their own self-importance they can't get their heads out of their own reflections long enough to see anything but their own concerns. Such is the case with the the U. S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Those two bodies had the temerity to condemn Olympic superstar Michael Phelps after News of the World published a photograph showing him inhaling from a marijuana pipe. In a statement to The Associated Press, the swimmer, who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games, did not dispute the authenticity of the picture published Sunday. "I engaged in behaviour which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgement," Mr. Phelps said in the statement. "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." To his credit, he didn't try to explain, he didn't deny -- he took responsibility and apologized. Now, the appropriate response to all this is the one taken by USA Swimming, which noted its Olympic champions are "looked up to by people of all ages, especially young athletes who have their own aspirations and dreams. "That said, we realize that none among us is perfect. We hope that Michael can learn from this incident and move forward in a positive way." Even the International Olympic Committee got it to right. "Michael Phelps is a great Olympic champion," the IOC said in a statement Monday. "He apologized for his inappropriate behaviour. We have no reason to doubt his sincerity and his commitment to continue to act as a role model." That is the proper response to what is an unfortunate misstep by a 23-year-old who has already accomplished much in his short life. What is not an appropriate response is that of the U.S. Olympic Committee, which said it was "disappointed in the behaviour recently exhibited by Michael Phelps." "Michael is a role model, and he is well aware of the responsibilities and accountability that come with setting a positive example for others, particularly young people," the USOC said in a statement. "In this instance, regrettably, he failed to fulfil those responsibilities." Also inappropriate was the response from the U.S. Anti- Doping Agency, of which Mr. Phelps was part of a group of elite athletes who agreed to take part in a pilot testing program designed to increase the accuracy of doping tests. His spot in the program could be at risk, said Travis Tygart, head of the U. S. Anti-Doping Agency. "For one of the Olympics' biggest heroes it's disappointing, and we'll evaluate whether he remains in that program," Mr. Tygart said. "But some good education comes from this because he's going to suffer some penalties." Nice. Slam one of your country's greatest athletes -- one of your country's greatest drug-free athletes -- for smoking pot. POT! (Surely nobody would even have taken notice had he been chugging a beer.) This from people who have had athletes competing after shooting and popping enough performance enhancing drugs to hop up a small town. The term hypocrite doesn't come close to describing these sanctimonious officials. In fact, we wouldn't blame Mr. Phelps if the told the Olympic Committee and the Anti-Doping Agency to kiss his muscular and needle-free backside. But he is too much of a class act. And he showed that class not just during the good times when it is easy but through his recent tough times as well. Let he or she who has never fallen victim to a little "youthful indiscretion" cast the first stone. A lot of adults could learn an awful lot from this young man. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin