Israel Adesanya, the renowned former UFC middleweight champion, has recently pleaded guilty to charges of driving under the influence in New Zealand.
Adesanya was apprehended after leaving a dinner party with friends on August 19th, 2023, and subsequent testing revealed 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood in his system.
It is important to note that the legal limit in New Zealand is set at 50 milligrams.
When appearing at the Auckland District Court, Adesanya expressed remorse and admitted guilt to the charges, which carry a maximum penalty of three months’ imprisonment or a £2,189 fine.
“I deeply apologize to my family, my team, and the community for the rash decision I made to drive after consuming alcohol at the dinner,” Adesanya stated.
He further added, “I was stopped by law enforcement and underwent an evidentiary blood test, which indicated a reading of 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.”
During the court proceedings, Adesanya’s attorney, Karl Trotter, requested that no conviction be entered—a request that was granted by the presiding judge.
Trotter also conveyed his intention to pursue a discharge without conviction during the forthcoming sentencing hearing scheduled for January 10th.
