Is Phelps's suspension an overreaction?

I actually think that there has been a huge overreaction regarding the photo of Michael Phelps smoking. I do not think that it is fair that he is being so drastically punished and is considered by some a bad role model. As long as he publically takes responsibility for his actions, and admits that it was a mistake and that it wont happen again, he should be forgiven and the media should move on. Most public figures have admitted to having tried smoking marijuana at least once. I think it is very hypocritical to suspend him and take away some of his endorsement deals. He is young and he is human. I think that sometimes the public forgets that famous people also make mistakes.

Yeah, i agree with Carli - most sports men get caught taking steroids which enhance their performance and that is essentially cheating.  Michael Phelps smoking dope is not cheating - it probably will limit his performance not enhance it. 

No, I don't think it's an over-reaction.

He wasn't doing anything that 95% of america hasn't done!!!  Big over reaction!!!!  However, when in the spotlight like he is...Gotta watch yourself!!!  Look out micheal...Somebody's watchin you.!    Hey phelps...Quit hoggin...Puff puff give!!!!!!!

You know something folks, Pot is being made into something more than what it is. How they can come up with lame excuses to discredit people is beyond me. Pot is nothing more than plant that GOD himself put it here for all to enjoy. It is not like cocaine or heroin, or crack. There is nothing involved in pot other than putting a plant in the ground growing it picking it drying it and smoking it. With all of the other drugs that are addictive, now those are problem drugs, those have to be manufactured and are of a chemical composition and needs to be of proportioned specific to proper usage.

Michael Phelps did nothing wrong here and should be left alone after all let's take a look at A-Rod and using performance enhancing steroids and he gets paid 10 million a years to play the game and he needs to cheat, come on. ANd his team doctor probably knew all about it at the time too.

Go get'em Michael Phelps a little buzz from mother nature is all a guy needs to make the day go by. And becides the point, have you seen how many calories Mike has to consume in order to do his dailey work out regiment, what was it about 13,000 calories a day, a hard working guy like mike needs to get the muchies to pound down all those calories LOL

YES

Many professional athletes smoke weed. He isn't the first. He probably lights up once or twice a month, that won't do anything to hurt his performance.

Phelps for the gold!

You probably smoked more weed than Cheech and Chong.