AFP, Baltimore :
Olympic swimming superstar Michael Phelps appears in court Friday in his home state of Maryland for driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding.
Phelps — the most decorated Olympian of all time with 18 golds out of 22 total medals — has been suspended from competition for six months since his arrest in September.
He has said he was “deeply sorry” for the DUI rap, which prompted him to check into a six-week rehab program amid questions over his return to competition.
Police say Phelps’ white Land Rover was doing 84 miles (135 kilometers) per hour in a 45 mph zone in Baltimore’s Fort McHenry Tunnel early on the morning of September 30.
“He was unable to perform satisfactorily a series of standard field sobriety tests,” police added in a statement at the time.
Phelps was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, excessive speed and crossing double lane lines.
The swimming champion quickly expressed remorse, telling his 1.6 million Twitter followers he took “full responsibility” for the “severity” of his actions.
