The fallout from that Michael Phelps bong picture is a 3 month ban – USA Swimming has temporarily suspended Michael Phelps. Swimmer Amanda Beard is comparing the Michael Phelps pot incident to the reaction to her Playboy pics.

Amanda Beard’s nude Playboy pictures were published in the magazine a year before the Beijing Games.

Amanda Beard commented, “If anyone knows public scrutiny, it’s me. When I posed for Playboy, so many officials looked down on me. Michael knows he isn’t a bad person. He made a mistake. People need to get over it. I want to cheer him on in London.”

USA Swimming released this statement about Michael Phelps’ suspension:

“USA Swimming has reprimanded Michael Phelps under its Code of Conduct by withdrawing financial support and the eligibility to compete for a period of three months effective today, Feb. 5, 2009.

This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero. Phelps has voluntarily accepted this reprimand and “has committed to earn back our trust.”