Year of pot pipes, polyurethane

Phelps made headlines in and out of pool in turbulent season

LOS ANGELES: Polyurethane and a much-publicized pot pipe saw swimming in turbulent waters last year.

Olympic superstar Michael Phelps had barely had time to towel off after his 2008 exploits in Beijing's Water Cube before he found himself the subject of less welcome publicity when Britain's News of the World published a photo of the 14-time Olympic gold medalist with his face pressed to a marijuana pipe.