Philip Hersh: USA Swimming dry docks Phelps

By Philip Hersh

Feb. 5, 2009 6:54 PM PT

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Michael Phelps took a hit to his image far bigger than that to his net worth when USA Swimming announced Thursday that it was docking him financial support and declaring him ineligible to compete for three months, effective immediately, as a sanction for the bong photo.

The money involved is insignificant to the winner of 14 Olympic gold medals, and the suspension will not keep him from competing in July’s U.S. trials for the 2009 world championships [updated with world championships on 2/6]

But this was a telling rap on the knuckles from a federation that had wallowed in his Beijing Games glory.

-- Philip Hersh

Sports Now

Philip Hersh

Philip Hersh, the former Olympic specialist for Tribune Co., covered 17 Olympics and reported from some 50 countries in 30 years with the Chicago Tribune. He likes to use sport as a way to write about the culture of a country or an athlete. Hersh graduated from Yale with a Bachelor of Arts in French literature. His passions include chamber music, road cycling (takes no PEDs except Advil) and Dr. Siri mysteries.

<strong><em><u>Philip Hersh:</em></u></strong> USA Swimming dry docks Phelps

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