SWIMMER PHELPS UNINVITED FROM SPEECHES IN CANADA

CALGARY -- A promoter has flip-flopped on plans to bring U.S. swimmer
Michael Phelps to events in Calgary and Vancouver in light of a
photograph that surfaced of the Olympic gold medalist using a bong
associated with smoking marijuana. Power Within Inc., a Toronto-based
company that organizes motivational speaking events and initially
stood by the superstar's involvement in next week's engagements in
Western Canada, has suddenly pulled the plug.

"Due to widely publicized alleged use of marijuana by Michael Phelps,
the decision has been made to present the program without Mr. Phelps'
participation," the company said in statement released to a local newspaper.

Both nonrefundable events were well on their way to selling out.
Tickets for next Tuesday's event in Calgary cost $229 and will now
feature actor Martin Sheen as its keynote speaker.

Next Friday's engagement in Vancouver, which costs $169, will still
feature Mehmet Oz, a regular on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

The image appeared in a British tabloid earlier this month, but it
was allegedly taken while Mr. Phelps attended a party last November
while visiting the University of South Carolina. Last week, a state
sheriff said he did not have enough physical evidence to charge Mr. Phelps.

Mr. Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing
Olympics in August, has apologized for his actions, but stopped short
of admitting to using pot.

Days after the controversy surfaced, Power Within said it was
standing behind the scheduled Canadian appearances by the swimmer.

"We're not changing our position on it," company founder Salim Khoja
told a local newspaper. "His message and his accomplishments speak
for themselves."

Officials did not respond to requests yesterday to explain their
change of heart.