Richland County Sheriff’s Department Drops Investigation of Michael Phelps

COLUMBIA, South Carolina, February 17. IN a statement released to the press, the Richland County Sheriff's Department stated that it would not pursue a criminal investigation into Michael Phelps' alleged drug usage.

At the beginning of the month, Phelps admitted to the authenticity of an image published by United Kingdom's News of the World that portrayed Phelps using a bong. However, in his statement, he never admitted to actual drug usage, only bad judgment.

Since that bombshell dropped on the swimming world, the Richland County Sheriff's Department made eight arrests of people involved in the party where the infamous image of Phelps was taken. Additionally, local authorities had hinted at potential charges for Phelps.

According to the statement released by Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, it looks like everyone is off the hook from that party:

"Having thoroughly investigated this matter, we do not believe we have enough evidence to prosecute anyone that was present at the November party."

Phelps responded to the ending of the investigation with a statement of his own:

"I'm glad this matter is put to rest. But there are also some important lessons that I've learned. For me, it's all about recognizing that I used bad judgment, and it's a mistake I won't make again. For young people especially – be careful about the decisions you make. One bad decision can really hurt you and the people you care about. I really appreciate the support my family and fans have shown me and now, I will move forward and dive back into the pool, having put this whole thing behind me."

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use