You may have been among those
who were shocked and disappointed to see the recent photo of U.S.
swimmer Michael Phelps smoking pot.
That picture caused U.S.A Swimming, based in Colorado Springs, to suspend him for 3 months.
But now, another group is asking that he be reinstated.
That group is called SAFER, which stands for Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation.
They've launched a campaign Tuesday to ultimately get U.S.A. swimming to change it's decision about Phelps.
"We've
launched a campaign to urge U.S.A. Swimming to reinstate Michael
Phelps, and stop driving their athletes to use alcohol instead of
marijuana," says Mason Tvert, executive director, SAFER.
Tvert sent that message out in an email to thousands of marijuana supporters.
"Hundreds
and hundreds of supporters have been emailing and faxing and calling
U.S.A. Swimming, letting them know that they don't think Michael Phelps
should be suspended simply for using a drug less harmful that alcohol,"
says Tvert.
But folks we spoke with say the punishment fits the crime.
"Michael
Phelps and anybody else who is a professional athlete, I think, it goes
with the territory. You have to be a role model for the young," says a
Colorado Springs dad.
11 News contacted U.S.A. Swimming. They say:
"We
are not interested in getting involved in a debate over the virtues or
dangers of marijuana and alcohol. For us, this is purely about taking
action that we think is in the best interest of Michael, the hundreds
of thousands of kids who are members of USA Swimming, the sport and the
Olympic movement. It's unfortunate that a group such as this would seek
to capitalize on Michael's celebrity to advance their own agenda."
