Michael Phelps pleads guilty to drunken driving

Baltimore - Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps has pleaded guilty to drunken driving almost three months after he was arrested.

Phelps entered his plea to a charge of driving under the influence in on Friday morning. He was sentenced to a year in prison, but the prison sentence is suspended. He will be on probation for a year and a half.

The 18-time gold medalist was arrested on the 30 September 2014. Documents show that 29-year-old Phelps was leaving the Horseshoe Casino in downtown Baltimore when he was pulled over for speeding and crossing the double yellow line while driving in a tunnel.

Police say Phelps registered a .145 on a blood-alcohol test. The legal limit to drive is .08% in Maryland.

A week after his arrest, USA Swimming suspended Phelps for six months.

Phelps entered a six-week treatment program in October. This is his second DUI conviction. Phelps pleaded guilty to drunken driving in 2004 in another Maryland county.

Phelps recently took to twitter to thank fans for their on-going support:

The past three months of my life have been some of the hardest times I’ve ever gone through, and the biggest learning experience that I have

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) December 20, 2014

ever had. As I hoped, I learned a lot about myself during my time away and now have the tools to continue to learn and grow from all of this

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) December 20, 2014

. What I did was wrong and I will share my experience with others and hope that I can help make a difference.

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) December 20, 2014

I know I still have work to do but I have great support around me and look forward to a brighter future.

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) December 20, 2014

I am back in the pool training and have set new goals for myself in and out of swimming for 2015 and beyond.

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) December 20, 2014

I'm so thankful for those who have supported me during this difficult time in my life!!! I love you all!!

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) December 20, 2014