CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – US swim star Michael Phelps will return from a three-month suspension by competing in a Charlotte UltaSwim meet on May 14.

The meet will mark Phelps' return from a suspension after being photographed inhaling from a marijuana pipe.

"Michael is focused on practising and regaining the mental and physical momentum that he had achieved going into the Beijing Olympics," Phelps' coach, Bob Bowman said.

"He is committed to a very demanding and rigorous training schedule as he prepares for upcoming meets and the FINA World Championships."

The 14-time Olympic medallist is hoping to use the Charlotte meet to get ready for the FINA World Championships in Rome. The Charlotte meets run from May 14-17 at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center.

Phelps, 23, became an American hero and role model for young US swimmers last summer by winning a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.

But Phelps made negative headlines earlier this month when a British newspaper published a photo of the swimmer smoking from a marijuana pipe.

The photo, taken during a November party at the University of South Carolina, prompted USA Swimming to suspend Phelps.

Phelps lost a major sponsorship deal with American packaged goods giant Kellogg Co. and faced possible legal punishment from a South Carolina County sheriff.