8 ARRESTS IN PHELPS PARTY

Bong Seized

(CNS) Police have made eight arrests in connection with the party
that led to publication of a photograph of Beijing Olympic hero
Michael Phelps, television station WIS reported Tuesday.

Phelps, the American swim star who won a record eight gold medals at
Beijing six months ago, was not among those charged in a probe by the
Richland County Sheriff's Department, according to the report.

Seven arrests were made for drug possession and another for
distribution of drugs, with arrests resulting from search warrants
served by the sheriff's department as part of their probe, WIS reported.

None of those arrested was named in the report.

A photograph of Phelps holding a bong, a pipe typically used for
smoking marijuana, was published by a British newspaper last week and
touched off a media frenzy that humiliated the Olympic hero.

The bong Phelps was holding in the picture was confiscated by the
sheriff's department. Sources told the station that the bong's owner
was trying to sell it on eBay for $100,000, and the person was not
even at the party but was among those charged.