(Sports Network) - Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott announced Monday there would be no charges lodged against American gold record swimmer Michael Phelps, who was photographed at a November house party holding a marijuana pipe.

Phelps, who has won 14 career Olympic gold medals, the most by any Olympian, has since apologized for his actions after a picture was posted in a British tabloid showing him with the pipe.

"I had nothing to do with Michael Phelps coming to Columbia and making a bad decision," said Lott during a news conference. "He did that. His bad decision and highly-publicized photograph placed me and the Richland County Sheriff's Department in a no-win situation."

Lott said he didn't have enough physical evidence to charge Phelps, who was photographed with the pipe during a party at the University of South Carolina. The photo was posted by News of the World.

The marijuana water pipe, known as a bong, was seized by authorities, but they never had proof that Phelps smoked from it.

Phelps holds the record for the most gold medals won at a single Summer Games with the eight he captured last year in Beijing. Phelps' eight gold medals in Beijing passed the record by Mark Spitz, who had seven at the 1972 Munich Games. Overall, Phelps has won 16 Olympic medals, including six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004.

After the photograph was released and Phelps apologized, he lost a major endorsement from Kellogg's and was suspended three months by USA Swimming.

"Even with his star status, he is still obligated to the laws of our state," stated Lott. "He is not immune from his responsibilities of doing what is right. He is also human and can make mistakes."



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