Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps has landed in a new scandal - the athlete faces a $23,289 (£14,556) unpaid tax bill.
 
The gold medallist, who cameoed in U.S. TV show Entourage last year (08), owes the money to the State of California for tax returns from 2005 and 2006, according to TMZ.com.
 
It follows a string of scandals for Phelps; he was placed on probation for 18 months after his 2004 arrest for DUI; in February (09) a photo was leaked to the British press showing him smoking a marijuana pipe and in August (09) he was fined for carrying an invalid driving license after a car accident.

Phelps is one of America's biggest sporting stars after he won eight gold medals out of eight in Beijing last year.

Swimming  seventeen races in just nine days Phelps went on to also set seven world records along the way.

And he didn't take a break in 2009 as it was another dominating performance at the World Championships earlier this year.

From his six finals he won five gold and set four more world records.