MESA, Ariz. — Michael Phelps will not compete in the 2015 world championships after all.
Originally banned from competing as part of his punishment handed down by USA Swimming following his drunken driving arrest in late September, there had been a sliver of hope that he could be reinstated to the team.
But Phelps will not be allowed to compete as part of Team USA at the world championship meet held in August in Kazan, Russia. He said Wednesday he accepts USA Swimming's ruling on the topic.
"It's obviously very challenging and for me to not be able to compete at world championships," Phelps said at a news conference Wednesday, adding that he did not want this to be a distraction for the team.