Olympic Swimmer Michael Phelps To ‘Attend a Program’ After DUI Arrest

Published at 10:05 am, October 5, 2014

EastIdahoNews.com Staff

Chris Hyde/Getty Images(BALTIMORE) — Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps will take time away from swimming “to attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself” following his DUI arrest in Maryland, he tweeted Sunday.

Phelps, 29, was arrested last week after police said they pulled him over for driving 84 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone.

A string of tweets from Phelps began with him saying that “The past few days have been extremely difficult.”

I recognize that this is not my first lapse in judgment, and I am extremely disappointed with myself.

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) October 5, 2014

I’m going to take some time away to attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself.

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) October 5, 2014

“Swimming is a major part of my life, but right now I need to focus my attention on me as an individual,” he continued, “and do the necessary work to learn from this experience and make better decisions in the future.”

After police pulled him over, he registered a .14 percent on a Breathalyzer test, according to police documents obtained by ESPN.

The legal limit in Maryland is .08.

“Mr. Phelps was identified as the driver by his driver’s license and appeared to be under the influence. He was unable to perform satisfactorily a series of standard field sobriety tests,” a spokesperson for Maryland Transportation Authority said.

Asked to do a one-leg stand, the Maryland Transportation Authority said that Phelps “stated ‘that’s not happening.'”

In arrest documents, an officer wrote that after he placed Phelps in custody, the swimmer appeared “disoriented, argumentative.”

He was charged with driving under the influence, excessive speed and crossing double lane lines.

Phelps was also arrested in 2004 in Maryland. He pleaded guilty to that arrest and got 18 months probation and a $250 fine.

His 2004 conviction was waived. If convicted on current charges, Phelps will face the penalties of a first-time offender, which include up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and the loss of his driver’s license for six months.

Phelps is due incourt on November 19.

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