If Michael Phelps could choose again whether to smoke marijuana at the November college party at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, he would have said "No" absolutely.

The 23-year-old Olympic gold medalist swimmer is under scrutiny as local sheriff's deputies continue to investigate his bong photos.

When those photos surfaced in Britain's News of the World newspaper, Phelps was forced to apologize. He lost a lucrative Kellogg Co. sponsorship and was suspended for three months by USA Swimming, the sport's governing body.

But it didn't stop there. A report Thursday from the Associated Press quoted attorney Joseph McCulloch as saying an unidentified client of his was charged with possession of marijuana and questioned about the November party where the swimming superstar was photographed with a bong.

The agency said the Richland County Sheriff's Office remains mum on the case, saying only that it is still investigating the case. "As soon as we're ready to release information on this case we will," said Lt. Chris Cowan.

(Agencies via Xinhua News Agency Feburary 13, 2009)