in its punishment of Michael Phelps? Here is the organization's official statement:
USA Swimming has reprimanded Michael Phelps under its Code of Conduct by withdrawing financial support and the eligibility to compete for a period of three months effective today, Feb. 5, 2009.
This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero.
Michael has voluntarily accepted this reprimand and has committed to earn back our trust.
Some related posts from my other blog:
Sentencing Class @ OSU Moritz College of Law 
3 responses to “Did you notice what theory of punishment is being pursued by USA Swimming…”
You could probably make a good case for any theory of punishment except incapacitation. My understanding of incapacitation is that you prevent someone from committing an act by confining them or removing them geographically. Here, Phelps is “incapacitated” from doing something positive–competitive swimming. USA Swimming just gave him time to smoke more weed.
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Despite who USA swimming says the “strong message” (I think it is easy to debate whether or not this is a strong message) is aimed at, I think it is clear aimed at other members of USA swimming as well as the public at large. Whether you want to call this deterence/education or a combination of both, USA swimming realized in punishment that they needed to send a message to others, not really Phelps, that they did not support this behavior.
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I agree with Shawn. I think it is crazy to use the state’s resources to attempt to prosecute a one time (that we know of) user. It is not worth trying to make an example out of Phelps. Kids who look up to him can see what bad publicity he is getting and the fact that he lost a sponsor and is banned from swimming.
I know many people have problems with athletes getting away with a lot of illegal activity, but I think if we all did a self evaluation, we have all gotten away with a lot of things ourselves.
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