LA Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani denies placing illegal sports bets
Baseball star says he was unaware of gambling debt as the saga rumbles on after his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was fired from franchise last week
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has denied placing bets on baseball, ever asking anyone to do so on his behalf or knowingly sent money to pay off someone else’s gambling debts.
Ohtani’s former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was fired last week following accusations he stole $4.5m from the Japanese baseball superstar after placing wagers with a bookmaker in Southern California, where gambling is illegal.
Mizuhara initially said in an interview with ESPN that Ohtani agreed to lend him the money but later changed his story to claim Ohtani had no knowledge of the gambling debt and “zero involvement in betting”.
Major League Baseball (MLB) opened up an investigation into the matter last week and, speaking for the first time on Monday, Ohtani denied ever betting on gambling and that Mizuhara had been lying when he said the pair were in communication about the accrued debt.
He said via a new translator: “Ippei told the media and my representatives that I, on behalf of a friend, that I paid off debt.
“Upon further questioning, it was in fact Ippei who was in debt and told my representative I was paying off those debts. All of this has been a complete lie.
“Ippei has been telling everyone around that he has been communicating with me on this account to my representative and my team and that hasn’t been true.
“I never bet on baseball or any other sports or never have asked somebody to do it on my behalf and I have never gone through a bookmaker to bet on sports.
“Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies,” Ohtani added.
Ohtani added that he only became aware of the alleged theft last week during a baseball series in South Korea.
He added that Mizuhara admitted to using his money during a team meeting, but only spoke in English at the time.
Mizuhara then spoke to Ohtani in private, during which Ohtani claimed was the first time the interpreter’s gambling addiction was disclosed.
Per MLB rules, any player, club, umpire or league official found placing bets with illegal operators will be punished by the Commissioner of Baseball, with the severity depending on the “facts and circumstances” of the respective conduct.
As per The Guardian, the IRS has said Mizuhara is under criminal investigation over the allegations.