Nathan DeAsha Arrested in U.K. on Criminal Drug Charges

IFBB pro bodybuilder Nathan DeAsha, 32, was arrested and charged earlier this month along with two other individuals with possession and intent to distribute illicit drugs in England, according to a Devon (U.K.) newspaper. 

DeAsha, who has won four professional IFBB competitions and finished in the top eight at the past two Mr. Olympias, was charged with alleged possession of MDMA, cocaine, and anabolic steroids with intent to supply, reported the North Devon Gazette on January 4. The trio was also charged with possessing criminal property (cash) and concealing or disguising criminal property, the paper reports. DaAsha, who lives in Liverpool, England, appeared with the other two individuals at the North Devon Magistrates’ Court.

DeAsha pled not guilty to supplying anabolic steroids. The trio will next appear before Exeter Crown Court on February 1.

Nicknamed “The Prophecy,” DeAsha turned pro in 2014 after winning that year’s British Championships, taking his class and the overall title. Since his pro debut in 2016, he’s made an immediate impact on the pro scene by winning multiple IFBB titles and qualifying for the Olympia every year.

It’s not the first time DeAsha has had a brush with the law. When riots broke out in Liverpool in August, 2011, it was reported that police and media labelled the rioters as “black kids with single mothers,” which DeAsha strongly objected to. Then 25, DeAsha apparently took to Facebook and made the ill-advised decision to tell his scant 855 followers to loot the shopping mall Liverpool One while police tried to contain the worst street violence seen in nearly a generation, according to the UK website LiverpoolEcho.co.uk. He reportedly made comments encouraging people to “terrorise police” and “hit town an get something out of it.” Police were provided a print out of DeAsha’s statements, then arrested and charged him.

Reportedly DeAsha could have accepted the charge and walked free but pled not guilty instead based on principle. Despite his reported protestations that he was being sarcastic and venting anger, the judge found him guilty of “encouraging riots” and handed him an 18-month sentence. He was released from prison in 2012.

No word on whether the most recent charge will affect his status competing in the March 2 Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio.

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