Michael Phelps to Return to Competition in April

After several years of run ins with the law and rumors of substance abuse, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps is now expected to return to competition in April.

The twenty-two-time Olympic medalist is set to compete in at the Arena Pro Swim Series event in Mesa, Ariz., from April 15-18. His coach confirmed the appearance.

The competition in Mesa is the first event scheduled as the swimmer’s six-month ban comes to an end. Phelps was punished with the ban after his second DUI arrest last September. The ban also extends to the 2015 world championships.

Phelps was sentenced to a one-year prison sentence for his DUI but received a suspended sentence. He was also ordered to undergo an 18-month supervised probation.

Before his September arrest for drunk driving, Phelps had planned a comeback and had participated in last year’s competition at Mesa where he competed in the 50-meter freestyle as well as the 100-meter butterfly.

Michael Phelps holds the record for most gold medals (18), gold medals in individual events (11), individual events for a male (13) and in 2008, he set the record for most first place finishes at a single Olympic Games with eight gold medals. He competed in London in 2012 and won four gold medals and two silvers medals. Phelps turns 29 in June and he has said that he does not want to swim into his 30s. He would be 31 during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com