It seemed as if Shawn Rhoden’s career really took off last year after he won the most important bodybuilding competition and was crowned Mr. Olympia. Nobody had expected the Jamaican-American to prevail against the back then actual title holder and sevenfold winner Phil Heath. But now Rhoden is confronted with serious problems against whose backdrop all sportive aspects of his life appear trivial…
The reigning Mr. Olympia is in real trouble: According to “Deseret News”, a local newspaper from Utah, Shawn Rhoden has been accused of the first degree felonies rape and object rape as well as the second degree felony forcible sexual abuse! A female competitive bodybuilder whose identity has been kept anonymously, apparently met the 44-year-old at his hotel on October 12, 2018. As the official charging documents state, Rhoden, whom the alleged victim described as her mentor, was on a visit from California.
The woman stated that the famous bodybuilder would have forced himself on her, although she would have tried to physically defend herself against his abusive actions. Rhoden only would have stopped once she would have told him that she would need to go downstairs since an acquaintance in the lobby would get suspicious otherwise. But there is even more incriminating evidence: Obviously, the police found a DNA sample on the woman’s body that was matched to Shawn Rhoden.
As a consequence, a warrant issue for Rhoden’s arrest was issued on Thursday. According to a further source, the bail has already been set at 750.000 US-Dollars. The woman claimed to have undergone a sexual assault examination. A nurse who was involved in the procedure stated that a laceration on her vagina would have been found, a wound prosecutors would typically for in cases of sexual assault.
It didn’t take long for the American Media LLC – the company organizing the Mr. Olympia event – to respond to these shocking news. Their press release states: “American Media, LLC Chairman and CEO David J. Pecker, owner and operator of Joe Weider’s Mr. Olympia Fitness and Performance Expo and the Mr. Olympia Contest, today announced that he is revoking the eligibility of 2018 Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden from competing in the 2019 and future Mr. Olympia competitions.” Furthermore, any coverage in the company’s media brands (amongst them the renowned magazines “Muscle & Fitness” and “Flex”) would be suspended.
Although the law says that a defendant enjoys the benefit of the doubt and counts as innocent as long as their guilt is not proven, the fact that this case has been officially recorded, that Shawn Rhoden is searched for first and second degree felonies and that his DNA could be found on the woman’s body, has probably already caused irreparable damage to his career. Even worse: If the accusations should hold true, the current Mr. Olympia would have committed a terrible crime which would have to be punished accordingly. On the other hand, there have been quite few cases where the alleged victims tried to enrich themselves through accusing celebrities. Either way, the sad truth is, we most likely won’t see Shawn “Flexatron” Rhoden on stage again soon, if ever, that is.
Sources: https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900079326/bodybuilder-shawn-rhoden-charged-utah.html https://www.tmz.com/2019/07/12/mr-olympia-shawn-rhoden-charged-with-rape/
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