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Olympic skiing legend Bode Miller has spoken publicly following his arrest earlier this month on misdemeanor drug-related charges in Idaho.
Court records obtained by PEOPLE show that the 48-year-old former alpine skier was arrested on June 6 and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was later released after posting a $5,000 cash bond.
Four days after the arrest, Miller entered not guilty pleas to both charges. On June 23, he addressed the matter in a statement shared on Instagram, expressing confidence that the allegations would eventually be dismissed once authorities fully reviewed the facts of the case.
According to Miller, the incident began when he was stopped by law enforcement while driving on a highway in Idaho. He said he had been accelerating while passing another vehicle when he was pulled over.
The retired athlete stated that a friend traveling with him possessed a small quantity of cannabis and a cannabis pipe. Miller said he was unaware that those items were in his friend's possession at the time of the traffic stop.
He added that both he and his friend cooperated fully with the responding officer throughout the encounter.
Miller is widely regarded as one of the most successful male alpine skiers in history. During his decorated career, he earned six Olympic medals and 79 World Cup podium finishes before retiring from professional competition in 2017.
Among his accomplishments was a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He later competed in his fifth and final Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014, where he secured a bronze medal.
Away from sports, Miller and his wife, Morgan Miller, are parents to six children. The family has also endured profound personal tragedy following the death of their daughter Emeline in June 2018. The toddler drowned in a neighbor's swimming pool at just 19 months old.
Earlier this month, Morgan marked the eighth anniversary of Emeline's death by resharing messages emphasizing the importance of water safety and drowning prevention. The posts encouraged parents to remain vigilant around pools and other bodies of water.
Miller has previously paid tribute to his daughter on social media, describing her as fearless, determined and full of life. On the fifth anniversary of her passing, he wrote that she was destined to make a difference in the world and that the family continues to miss her deeply.
Speaking about the loss during a television appearance in 2023, Miller said the pain remains with him and never truly disappears.
