Olympic superstar swimmer Michael Phelps is at the centre of a drug scandal after he was photographed smoking a bong at a student party.

Phelps, who won an amazing eight medals for the United States at the Beijing Olympics, was snapped inhaling Marijuana last November at a party at the University of South Carolina - the 'News of the World' printed the shot yesterday.

According to the British newspaper, the swimming star flirted with girs and drank beer at the party. A fellow guest offered Phelps a glass bong and he started inhaling the marijuana. A source told them : "You could tell Michael had smoked before. He grabbed the bong and a lighter and knew exactly what to do. He looked just as natural with a bong in his hands as he does swimming in the pool. He was the gold medal winner of bong hits."

The newspaper also revealed that Phelps' management had bargained with them not to print the photo: " Spokesman Clifford Bloxham offered us an extraordinary deal not to publish our story, saying Phelps would become our columnist for three years, host events and get his sponsors to advertise with us."

Phelps (23), who has won 14 gold medals in his career admitted to smoking the bong, and made a public apology: "I engaged in behaviour which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgement."

It is not the first scandal to hit the young sports star. Phelps was arrested in 2004 for drink driving and was on parole for 18 months. After histriumph in Beijing he grabbed headlines for his outrageous lifestyle: Gambling in Las Vegas and flirting with a stripper. After this latest drugs scandal - could this be the end for the Olympic king?

His cannabis hit could lose him his sponsorship deal with Kellog's cornflakes, but it shouldn't affect his career. Lawyer and Doping expert Dr. Michael Lehner told BILD that the drug-related ban "is only for competition periods. He can't be booked for a private offence".