Israel Adesanya banned from driving for six-months following drunk driving incident
Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will avoid jail time but did receive some form of punishment for an August 2023 arrest following a drunk driving charge.
“The Last Stylebender” Adesanya appeared at the Auckland District Court in Auckland, New Zealand, on Wednesday, after previously admitting guilt in a drunk driving incident on August 19.
The former UFC 185-pound kingpin was subjected to an alcohol breath test at an inner-city testing checkpoint. Arresting officers noted that Adesanya had shown signs of drinking and that he admitted to drinking two cocktails with friends, according to Stuff who reported on the charge.
Adesanya’s blood alcohol reading showed 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit in New Zealand is 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. Adesanya’s reading meant he was eligible for the harshest penalty possible, up to three months in prison and a fine of up to $4,500 NZD.
Judge Peter Winter listened to lawyers representing Adesanya who stated that their client could potentially lose sponsors and be barred from entering Canada if the charges stick.
“The adverse consequences, should my client be convicted, are monumental,” said lawyer Karl Trotter.
Judge Winter said Adesanya had taken full responsibility for his offending and was “deeply embarrassed”.
As a result, Adesanya was barred from driving for six months and ordered him to pay $1500 to an accredited drunk-drive charity and undertake a stop-drunk-drive program. He was also ordered to pay for the medical and analyst fees, totaling $296.
Adesanya lost his title to current champion Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September just weeks after his arrest.
