Phelps 'may not compete in 2012 Olympics'

Michael Phelps has admitted that he may not compete in the 2012 Olympics following his recent marijuana controversy.

The swimmer was forced to apologise after the News Of The World leaked pictures of him reportedly smoking from a cannabis bong.

The International Olympic Committee accepted Phelps's apology, but he is yet to decide whether to take part in the London Olympics.

"This is a decision of mine that I'm not going to make today and I'm not going to make tomorrow," he told the Baltimore Sun.

"It's going to require a lot of time and energy and a lot of thinking for myself. But also talking to Bob [Bowman, his coach] and talking to my family and just deciding what I want to do."

Phelps admitted that it "definitely wasn't easy" to tell his mother Debbie about the photo.

"I know this won't happen again," he added. "It's obviously bad judgment and it's something I'm not proud of at all. I will say that with the mistakes that I've made in my life, I've learned from them. Every one of them. And I've become a better person.

"That's what I plan to do from here. It's definitely not what I wanted, and it's clearly not what my mum wanted."