FINA throws its support behind Phelps

WASHINGTON: Record-setting Olympic champion Michael Phelps on Wednesday once again acknowledged his poor judgment over a controversial picture purportedly showing him smoking marijuana.

Despite the potentially damaging episode, world swimming's governing body FINA is backing Phelps, while the US Olympic Committee has contacted the embattled swimmer to help him avoid repeating a similar episode.

A photograph of Phelps was reported to have been taken in November at a party at the University of South Carolina and was published by British newspaper News of the World.