March 13 - Michael Phelps (pictured) has committed himself to London 2012 after contemplating his participation following the furore after he was pictured allegedly using illegal drugs.
 

The 23-year-old American was last month suspended for three months by USA Swimming and the governing body also withdrew all financial support after a photograph was published of him in the British tabloid News of the World apparently inhaling from the type of glass pipe used to smoke cannabis.

 

His sponsor Kellogg then announced they would not renew their contract with the swimmer when it expired at the end of February.

 

Phelps admitted during an interview to be broadcast on NBC later today to having problems motivating himself since he won a record eight Olympic gold medals in Beijing last year but that he plans to continue until London.

 

He said: "Ever since the Olympics, I've had a hard time really finding the passion to get back in the pool.

 

"My mom and I talked about it, and I talked to some friends about it.

 

"And I talked to a lot of people about it.

 

"And I just literally woke up one Sunday, probably about two, three weeks ago, and there was literally a blink of an eye where I was just like, 'Why would I ever be questioning that?'

 

"It's literally something in my body just completely turned - like a 180.

 

"And from right then and there, I had a passion for getting back in the pool and doing what I wanted to do.

 

"It's a little painful getting back into shape.

 

"But I like it. I'm ready to go another four years, and I still have goals."

 

Phelps became the most successful Olympic competitor in history by taking his career total of gold medals to 14 but does not expect to be in his best shape at the World Championships in Rome later this year.

 

He said: "He does not, though, expect to be in the same peak condition as last year.

 

"I think I can get back to some kind of racing form.

 

"For every day you miss, it takes you twice as long to get back.

 

"And I've been out of the water for about five months.

 

"So it will take about 10 months to really get back to where I was."

 

Phelps also admitted he had made a huge error of judgement when he was pictured with the now infamous bong at a party at the University of South Carolina last November, although the swimmer has always stopped short of admitting smoking cannabis.

 

He did, though, insist he was less concerned about any financial ramifications than the impact on those around him.

 

He said: "It was an awful judgement.

 

"And, really, the people I hurt is my family, clearly, my friends, the close people around me and most importantly, the fans.

 

"And I realise that that hurt a lot of people.

 

"It's not about money to me.

 

"The contract side of things, yeah, I was disappointed.

 

"But I think the biggest thing is who I hurt the most.

 

"If I lost money, okay.