Michael Phelps will not be allowed to swim on Team USA in the 2015 world championship meet this August in Kazan, Russia, .听
Phelps recently completed a six-month drunk-driving ban from USA Swimming鈥搒anctioned events. This week marks his return since the ban was lifted. Phelps will swim this week at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Mesa, Arizona. He had hoped to compete in the world championships as well聽but has accepted USA Swimming鈥檚 ruling, saying he does not want to be a distraction for the team.
鈥淚t鈥檚 obviously very challenging for me to not be able to compete at world championships,鈥� said Phelps at a press conference Wednesday. 鈥淚 will be in full support of everything they do over there, and I wish them all the luck in Kazan.鈥�
The 18-time Olympic gold medalist says he hopes to compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.