USA: Michael Phelps, the greatest Olympian in history, will "continue to act as a role model" for the Olympics despite the publication of a picture apparently showing him using illegal drugs. The 23-year-old who won an historic eight gold medals in Beijing, after having won six in Athens 2004, issued a public apology after a newspaper published a photo of him that appeared to show the swimmer inhaling from a type of glass pipe used to smoke cannabis. Phelps did not deny that the pipe was what the paper said it was. Neither did he confirm that he had used cannabis. To do so would have surely plunged him into a heap of legal trouble back home. An International Olympic Committee statement read: "Michael Phelps is a great Olympic champion. He apologised for his inappropriate behaviour. We have no reason to doubt his sincerity and his commitment to continue to act as a role model." Smoking cannabis out of competition is not an offence under the World Anti-Doping Code. However, the picture will not have pleased Phelps' sponsors, including Visa Omega and Speedo. Phelps issued a statement apologising for "regrettable" behaviour and "bad judgment". Th pattern of his behaviour is similar to that he displayed after Athens, when he went on a drinking binge, got in a car and got caught drink-driving. He did community service and issued a public apology. This time, there has been no outright confession, for obvious legal reasons, perhaps. The questions in the States will run and run, including, who was the fellow party goer at a student party at the University of South Carolina in Columbia last November who decided that the credit crunch was excuse enough to dob Phelps in. Phelps said: "I engaged in behaviour which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgement," Phelps said in a statement, adding it would not happen again. USA Swimming expressed its disappointment in Phelps but said that it was sure he would learn from his mistake and move on. Not a clever choice of Mr Phelps at a time when he was, understandably, still letting off steam. Meanwhile, much worse things are happening in the world.

Japan: Takuro Fujii set a national record in winning the 100m  butterfly at the Tokyo swimming championships. His 51.28 seconds at Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center shaved 0.05 off the previous mark set by Kohei Kawamoto last September.