• by Wayne Friedman , August 17, 2012

The wrong kind of Michael Phelps-related Olympic advertising? Apparently when it comes to non-Olympic advertisers.

Seems that an print ad for Louis Vuitton has Phelps in the bathtub modeling some new, high-end swim trunks -- photographed by noted lens-er Annie Leibovitz. But that print ad leaked before August 15th.  

And that could be trouble. The International Olympic Committee has specific rules for Olympic athletes in promoting non-Olympic sponsors from July 18 to August 15. Coca-Cola or Visa would be fine.

And if that happens, in theory, an athlete could be sanctioned and stripped of his medals.

We are guessing that would mean Phelps may have to un-retire and get back in the pool in four years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to take a second shot as having the most Olympic medals of any athlete in history.