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Nathan De Asha Withdraws from 2022 Arnold Classic Due to Injury

2021 Arnold Classic UK Champion Nathan De Asha was considered a top contender for the 2022 Arnold Classic USA title. However, he has withdrawn from the competition with less than one month to go before the big contest in Columbus, Ohio.

De Asha has withdrawn due to a biceps’ injury he suffered initially during a photo shoot. He explained the details of the injury in detail in a five minute plus long video on Instagram. De Asha can be seen wearing a sling on his left arm while he’s speaking about the injury.

“Two weeks ago, I was doing a shoot in the gym, training biceps, and I felt a small pull. Ooh, that felt funny, that felt strange,” De Asha said. He went on to explain that he felt another pull on the same muscle later on. After a visit to the doctor, the pain was revealed to be a slight tear in the lower biceps. He opted to have surgery to make a full repair. While the rehab is expected to last a few weeks, he felt that he wouldn’t be able to prepare for the Arnold Classic properly. At the 1:45 mark in the video, he made his removal from the Arnold Classic lineup official.

“I’m also out of the Arnold Classic 2022. I am devastated. I was doing my diet, I was getting into it, I was shifting the weight,” De Asha said. He expressed confidence on how the contest would’ve went had he been able to compete. “As the reigning Arnold UK champion, I feel I would’ve been battling with the likes of the top guys for that title.”

De Asha went on to say that he intends to compete in the Arnold Classic 2023. He would have to be invited in order for that to happen. As for the 2022 contest, the British bodybuilder is the second man to withdraw from the Arnold Classic lineup. In January of 2022, Rafael Brandao also announced that he was out of the contest, but he never specified why he removed himself from the lineup. Both men are currently qualified for the 2022 Olympia, which will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada this coming December.

After De Asha’s removal from the lineup, 11 men are now left to compete for the Arnold Classic title in March. Those men are listed in alphabetical order below.

  • WIlliam Bonac
  • Maxx Charles
  • Brandon Curry
  • Samson Dauda
  • Regan Grimes
  • Steve Kuclo
  • Cedric McMillan
  • Fabio Giga Rezende
  • Justin Rodriguez
  • Brett Wilkin
  • Akim Williams

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