OUT OF THE POOL, PHELPS TOLD

Michael Phelps was suspended from competition for three months by USA
Swimming, the latest fallout from a photo that showed the Olympic
great inhaling from a marijuana pipe.

The sport's national governing body also cut off its financial support
to Phelps for the same three-month period effective Thursday.

"This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but
we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed
so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming
member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero," the
Colorado Springs, Colo.-based federation said in a statement.

"Michael has voluntarily accepted this reprimand and has committed to
earn back our trust."

Phelps won a record eight gold medals in Beijing and returned to
America as one of the world's most acclaimed athletes.

Now he's enduring a wave of bad news in the wake of the photo,
published Sunday by News of the World, a British tabloid.

Earlier Thursday, cereal and snack maker Kellogg Co. announced it
wouldn't renew its sponsorship contract with Phelps. The swimmer
appeared on the company's cereal boxes after his Olympic triumph.

USA Swimming provides a $1,750 monthly stipend to national team
members to help defray travel and training expenses, plus performance
bonuses. However, it's a small percentage of the millions Phelps makes
through endorsements.

Phelps has acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment." He
didn't dispute the authenticity of the photo, reportedly taken at a
house party while Phelps was visiting Columbia, S.C., in November
during an extended break from training.

The 23-year-old has resumed training in his hometown of Baltimore, but
his plans to return to competition will have to be put on hold.

Several of Phelps' Olympic teammates rallied to his
defense.

Among them was Dara Torres, the 41-year-old silver medalist whom
Phelps jokingly referred to in Beijing as "Mom."

"I see him as a kid trying to grow up in the most intense spotlight
known to any athlete. He has apologized, and what else can he do?" she
said. "The thing I hope is that people realize Michael is still a
person and not just a swimming hero."

Amanda Beard compared Phelps' ordeal to some of the disdain she faced
after posing nude in Playboy magazine before the Beijing Games.

"If anyone knows public scrutiny, it's me," the four-time Olympian
said in a text message. "When I posed for Playboy, so many officials
looked down on me.

"Michael knows he isn't a bad person. He made a mistake. People need
to get over it."