Michael Phelps was suspended from competition for three months by USA Swimming, the latest fallout from a photo that showed the Olympic great inhaling from a marijuana pipe.

The sport's national governing body also cut off its financial support to Phelps for the same three-month period, effective yesterday.

"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," the Colorado Springs-based federation said in a statement.

"Michael has voluntarily accepted this reprimand and has committed to earn back our trust."

Phelps won a record eight gold medals in Beijing and returned to America as one of the world's most acclaimed athletes. Now he's enduring a wave of bad news in the wake of the photo, published Sunday by News of the World, a British tabloid.

Earlier yesterday, cereal and snack maker Kellogg Co. announced it wouldn't renew its sponsorship contract with Phelps, saying his behavior is "not consistent with the image of Kellogg." The swimmer appeared on the company's cereal boxes after his Olympic triumph.

"Michael's been through a lot and he's learned a lot, hopefully," his coach, Bob Bowman, told The Associated Press during a telephone interview. "I support him and I want to see him do better. I'm here, as always, to try to help him move forward. He's learned some tough lessons and he's disappointed a lot of people, me included."

SOCCER

KAI TAPPED FOR TEAM

Goalkeeper Hope Solo, forward Natasha Kai, a Kahuku High and University of Hawai'i alum, and midfielders Heather O'Reilly and Shannon Boxx were among 18 players chosen for the U.S. squad that will compete in the Algarve Cup next month.

U.S. women's team coach Pia Sundhage selected 13 players from the team that won the Beijing Olympics last summer. The Algarve Cup will be held March 4 to 11 in southern Portugal. The Americans have won it six times.

Star forward Abby Wambach is not ready to play as she nears the end of her comeback from a broken leg sustained before the Olympics.

GOLF

VILLEGAS LEADS BUICK

Camilo Villegas holed out for an eagle early in his round and made a string of birdies late for a 9-under 63 on the easier North Course at Torrey Pines, giving him a three-shot lead yesterday in the Buick Invitational in San Diego.

Hawai'i's Dean Wilson, a Castle High alum, shot a 71 on the South, while Parker McLachlin, a Punahou alum, shot a 74, also on the South.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

ST-PIERRE UNDER PROBE

The Nevada State Athletic Commission says it is considering punishment for Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Georges St-Pierre after his corner illegally applied petroleum jelly to his shoulders and upper back during his winning title fight against Hilo's BJ Penn last week.

Keith Kizer, executive director of the commission, said yesterday that it has received a letter from Penn's lawyer asking the commission to look into the use of the slippery substance. Kizer says the commission is asking St-Pierre to respond within 20 days.

Kizer says he entered the ring after the second round of the Saturday title fight to tell St-Pierre's corner to stop putting petroleum jelly on his upper body.

Under UFC rules, petroleum jelly is OK to use on a fighter's face, but not on other parts of the body.

TENNIS

TSONGA ADVANCES

Top-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France reached the SA Tennis Open quarterfinals yesterday in Johannesburg, South Africa, by beating Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, 6-1, 6-4.

The 14th-ranked Frenchman will face sixth-seeded Kristof Vliegen of Belgium, who beat Ivo Minar, 6-4, 6-1.

• Sebastian Decoud of Argentina upset seventh-seeded Agustin Calleri, 7-6 (3), 7-5, yesterday at the Movistar Open in Vina Del Mar, Chile, to reach his first ATP quarterfinals.

• Defending champion Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine defeated third-seeded Ivo Karlovic of Croatia, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, yesterday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Zagreb (Croatia) Indoors.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NMSU PLAYER ARRESTED

New Mexico State freshman guard Terrance Joyner was arrested after authorities discovered marijuana inside his luggage as the team departed on a two-game road trip to Utah State and Nevada.

Chris Mears, a police spokesman in El Paso, Texas, said Joyner was arrested and charged with marijuana possession Wednesday after security agents at the city's airport found 1 1/2 marijuana cigarettes inside a checked bag belonging to the player.

According to jail records, Joyner was released after posting $300 bond.

School officials said earlier Joyner had been suspended indefinitely after violating undisclosed team rules.