Michael Phelps Announces He Will 'Enter a Program,' Take a Break from Swimming

Eighteen-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps will take a break from competitive swimming to enter a program after being arrested for driving under the influence in Maryland last week. 

"The past few days have been extremely difficult," Phelps wrote in a statement on his Facebook and Twitter pages. "I recognize that this is not my first lapse in judgment, and I am extremely disappointed with myself. I’m going to take some time away to attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself."

Phelps, 29, was arrested in Baltimore on Sept. 30 and charged with DUI after being pulled over for a speeding violation. Police allege that he was going 84 mph in a 45 mph zone and failed field sobriety tests when approached by an officer, per Ray Sanchez and Amanda Watts of CNN.

"He was unable to perform satisfactorily a series of standard field sobriety tests," a statement read. "Mr. Phelps was cooperative throughout the process."

Rick Rycroft/Associated Press

The most decorated Olympian in history, Phelps came out of a temporary retirement from competitive swimming in April. He has competed in various events on the swimming circuit since, including winning a gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly at the Pan Pacific Championships in August.

The plan in place was for him to build his endurance and be ready for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but Phelps indicated that swimming will be a secondary focus for now.

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

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

This is Phelps' second DUI arrest in Maryland. In 2004, he pleaded guilty and served an 18-month probation sentence. In 2009, Phelps also received attention for a photograph that allegedly showed him smoking marijuana, a banned substance for Olympic athletes. USA Swimming suspended Phelps three months in the aftermath of the marijuana incident.

The organization called Phelps' recent DUI arrest "disappointing and unquestionably serious," per Sanchez and Watts. It has not indicated whether it will take disciplinary action against the 22-time medalist.

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