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Michael Phelps Apologizes for DUI Arrest, Speeding: Olympian Is “Deeply Sorry” for His Actions

Michael Phelps
Olympian Michael Phelps was reportedly arrested early Tuesday, Sept. 30, for driving under the influence.

UPDATE: Michael Phelps has released a statement about his DUI to Us Weekly. "Earlier this morning, I was arrested and charged with DUI, excessive speeding, and crossing double lane lines," he told Us. "I understand the severity of my actions and take full responsibility. I know these words may not mean much right now but I am deeply sorry to everyone I have let down."

Us also received a statement from United States Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun, who said, "We were surprised by today's news. We are disappointed on a number of fronts, but want to give Michael Phelps and USA Swimming an opportunity to comment before saying anything more."

USA Swimming, for its part, released the following: "The news regarding Michael Phelps and his actions are disappointing and unquestionably serious. We expect our athletes to conduct themselves responsibly in and out of the pool."

PREVIOUSLY: Olympian swimmer Michael Phelps was arrested early Tuesday, Sept. 30, for driving under the influence.

The record-holding 22-time medalist, 29, was booked in Maryland, after Baltimore police clocked him driving nearly 40 miles over the speed limit (84 mph in a 45 mph zone) in the Fort McHenry Tunnel in his white 2014 Land Rover, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police said in a statement released to Us Weekly Tuesday afternoon.

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According to authorities, Phelps appeared drunk and failed multiple standard field sobriety tests. He was charged with crossing double lane lines, in addition to excessive speeding. The Olympian, according to police, was cooperative throughout the process.

This is Phelps' second DUI arrest: His first encounter with the law was in November 2004 at age 19, when the star swimmer pleaded guilty to drunk driving and was sentenced to 18 months of probation.

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Phelps — who had recently stormed the 2004 summer games in Athens, Greece, winning eight medals — apologized to the judge at the time when he was sentenced. "I recognize the seriousness of this mistake," he said in November 2004. "I've learned from this mistake and will continue learning from this mistake for the rest of my life."

In April, Phelps announced that he was coming out of retirement and hinted at the possibility of competing in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Three months later, the storied athlete posed nude for ESPN's 2014 Body Issue. "I got fat and out of shape," Phelps said of gaining weight during his brief retirement. "It was hard because I had always eaten whatever I wanted whenever I wanted it. I would always be like, 'All right, I'll go work out,' and I would never ever go. Sure enough, 25 pounds later, I was still saying the same thing. That was just part of my learning process."

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