Michael Phelps to compete for first time since suspension next week

Michael Phelps will return to competition for the first time since being suspended for six months with a meet in Arizona next week.

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps will return to competition for the first time since being suspended for six months from all sanctioned events with a meet in Arizona next week, according to the Associated Press.

Phelps was arrested in Maryland for driving under the influence last September, his second DUI arrest in 10 years. He pleaded guilty and was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and 18 months of supervised probation. He did not have to serve jail time.

USA Swimming suspended him in October, and his suspension ended on April 6. He will compete in the Arena Pro Swim Series, which will be held April 15-18 at Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa, Ariz.

My suspension is finally up! Time to get back in the pool and race again! Looking forward to #mesa !!

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) April 6, 2015

As part of his suspension, USA Swimming and Phelps decided he would not participate in the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia, but he reportedly could be reinstated to it.

Phelps, who has 22 Olympic medals, including 18 golds, announced one year ago that he was coming out of retirement and would possibly target the 2016 Olympics. He has not yet committed to participating in the Rio Games. 

- Molly Geary