Michael Phelps may have smoked the competition in Beijing, but he may not be so lucky at eluding the law in South Carolina.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said he will charge Phelps with a crime if he is able to determine the 14-time Olympic gold medalist smoked marijuana in his jurisdiction.
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Phelps, who set a record with eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Games, was photographed smoking marijuana out of a pipe at a November party in Columbia.
The photo was published on Sunday in the British newspaper News of the World.
Phelps has since apologized, calling his behavior “inappropriate.”
“This case is no different than any other case,” Lott said. “This one might be a lot easier since we have photographs of someone using drugs and a partial confession. It’s a relatively easy case once we can determine where the crime occurred.”
Possession of marijuana is a misdemeanor in Richland County — punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $570 fine.
It remains unclear where the party took place, although the paper said it occurred during a visit at the University of South Carolina.
Phelps’ sponsors – including swimsuit-maker Speedo and Swiss watchmaker Omega – issued statements calling the incident a “non-issue.”
The International Olympic Committee has also accepted Phelps’ apology.
“We have no reason to doubt his sincerity and his commitment to continue to act as a role model,” the IOC said in a statement.