Sports - Olympic champion Michael Phelps has apologized to Chinese fans for what he called his "regrettable behavior" after he was photographed with a marijuana pipe at the University of South Carolina.
Phelps spoke via the Internet on a video that appeared widely Thursday on Chinese-language Web sites. The Chinese-language newspaper Southern Metropolis Daily said the Web sites had received the statement from automaker Mazda, which is reported to be paying Phelps more than $1 million to endorse the car brand in China.
"As many of you know, I recently engaged in behavior which was regrettable and not what people have come to expect from me," Phelps said, with his apology subtitled in Chinese.
"The past few days have been tough for me, but I've received support and encouragement online from so many Chinese friends."
A photo surfaced recently showing him inhaling from a marijuana pipe at the University of South Carolina in November.
Tags: chinese, forgiveness, Phelps, thanks, Warmth