NOTHING could damage Michael Phelps 's reputation. Nothing. Except this. Photographs purported to be of the superstar American swimmer smoking marijuana have been published by the News of the World in England. According to the notorious rag, Phelps's aides went to great lengths to stop the publication of the pictures. Needless to say, they failed. Front-page headline: "Phelps Goes Bong". Inside: "What A Dope." The story was accompanied by a shot of the 14-times Olympic gold medallist sucking on a glass pipe. In other words, a bong. The News Of The World once printed photos of Shane Warne in white underpants while in the company of a couple of semi-naked English lasses. The damage in Warne's case was limited because his image was already less than saintly. But Phelps, despite a past drink-driving offence, was standing alongside Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Usain Bolt and Tiger Woods as the pin-up boys of world sport. The governing body of swimming, FINA, declined to comment. Recently they announced four-year bans for drug offences. The pictures were taken at a house party at the University of South Carolina that Phelps attended last November because his girlfriend, Jordan Matthews, was there. "Michael came to visit Jordan but ended up just getting wasted every night," the newspaper quoted a source as saying. "He arrived with a group of girls hanging all over him. Jaws hit the floor when he walked in. You don't get many celebrities in Columbia, so when Phelps comes to your party, it's a very big deal. He didn't know many people so you'd think he'd be a little shy. But he was loud, obnoxious and slamming beers from the get-go. Every girl wanted a piece of him and every guy wanted to be his best buddy. He couldn't get enough of all the attention. 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. Michael ended up getting a little paranoid, though, because before too long he looked like he was nervous and ran out of the place." In 2004, aged 19, Phelps received 18 months' probation for driving while under the influence of alcohol. He had been a cleanskin ever since, save for raising eyebrows when he became friendly with Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice after the Olympics. Phelps once described his career and life so far: "All you do is eat, sleep, swim; eat, sleep, swim; eat, sleep, swim." The US Olympic Committee, USA Swimming, the World Anti-Doping Agency and Phelps's coach, Bob Bowman, also refused to comment. Phelps, who earned an estimated $US4million ($6.27m) in endorsements last year, resumed training two weeks ago for the world championships to be held in Rome in July. His commitment had been questioned by claims he was dating former stripper Caroline Pal. The News Of The World said Phelps's spokesman Clifford Bloxham offered for Phelps to become their columnist for three years, host events and get his sponsors to advertise with the newspaper. Bloxham was quoted as saying: "It's seeing if something potentially very negative for Michael could turn into something very positive for the News of the World ." For Phelps, the negative stayed negative. His glass was left half empty. Australian swimming officials said no Australian swimmers were at the November party. Phelps would not be tested for cannabis or other social drugs unless he was "in competition", under World Anti-Doping Agency rules. But any Australian swimmer caught in the same situation would face more serious consequences after they followed the trend of AFL and NRL footballers in agreeing to an illicit drug-testing policy. Under such an illicit drug policy - brought into focus in the wake of Ben Cousins's bizarre behaviour - but not yet signed off by the athletes, Australian swimmers can in future be tested for substances such as cannabis in all drug-testing situations, including out of competition, and face bans ranging from a fine to a sanction of up to two years.