The television station also reported that police confiscated the bong Phelps allegedly used after tracking it down when its owner, who is one of the eight people charged in the case, attempted to sell it on eBay for 100,000 dollars.

According to the report, 23-year-old Phelps, the American swim super star who won a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was not among those charged in a probe by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

    Among those charged, seven arrests have been charged with drug possession and one person with distribution of drugs. But none of those charged was named in the report.

    The report said the photograph appeared to be taken at a house located within the city limits of this state capital, but the report said the Columbia Police Department has not taken an active role in the investigation.

    Phelps was banned for three months by USA Swimming on Thursday for his bad behavior. The moves were the latest fallout from a photograph published in an English tabloid over the weekend showing the 23-year-old smoking a long glass pipe, or bong, associated with the consumption of marijuana. He apologized for a lapse in judgment and lost a sponsor in Kellogg Co.

    The American quartet of Aaron Peirsol, Eric Shanteau, Phelps and David Walters broke the old standard of 3:30.68 set by the United States in winning Olympic gold in Beijing.

    Germany finished second in 3:28.58 with Australia third in 3:28.64.

    Big day for Phelps’ teammate Ryan Lochte too, as he completed the individual medley double by winning the men’s 400m that gave him the fourth gold.

    Lochte clocked four minutes 07.01 seconds, beating his teammate Tyler Clary and Laszlo Cseh of Hungary.

    Britain’s Liam Tancock bettered his own world record to win the men’s 50m backstroke final.

    Tancock clocked 24.04 seconds with Japan’s Junya Koga finishing second and South Africa’s Gerhard Zandberg third.

    Russia’s Yuliya Efimova won the women’s 50m breaststroke title in a world record time of 30.09 seconds, shattering the previous mark of 30.23 set by Canadian Amanda Reason on July 8 in Montreal.