Shohei Ohtani issued a statement to the media on Monday regarding the gambling scandal surrounding himself and prior friend/translator Ippei Mizuhara. During the conference Ohtani claimed to have never bet on baseball or other sports, never agreed to pay off the debt Ippei had accumulated or make payments to the bookmaker, and also had know clue that Ippei was doing this until the series in Korea.
Per Shohei Ohtani he has personally never bet on baseball, sports, or had anyone bet on his behalf for him.
“I never bet on baseball or any other sports. I have never asked anybody to do that on my behalf. I have never gone through a bookmaker to bet on sports.”
Shohei Ohtani during a statement to the media
Ippei Mizuhara stole money from Shohei Ohtani’s bank account.
When news of this gambling scandal broke initially there were conflicting reports from Ippei and Ohtani’s representatives. Ippei initially indicated that Ohtani himself paid off all of his gambling debt. Ohtani’s representatives then claimed they were victims of massive theft. Ippei then changed his story and indicated that Ohtani had no clue of the transaction. During Ohtani’s statement he re-iterated the fact that his money was stolen from him and he was unaware.
“Ippei has been stealing money from my account, and has told lies…Obviously I never agreed to pay off the debt or make payments to the bookmaker… I do want to make it clear I never bet on sports or have willfully sent money to the bookmaker.”
Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani first caught win of Ippei Mizuhara’s gambling debt during the Seoul, South Korea series.
“The first time I knew about this gambling — Ippei’s gambling — was after the first game (in Korea) when we had the team meeting in the clubhouse. During the team meeting Ippei was speaking English and I didn’t have a translator at my side. But even with that, I started to feel that there was something amiss.
I contacted my representatives at that point. When I was finally able to talk to my representatives, that’s when my representatives found out Ippei has been lying the whole time. And that’s when I contacted the Dodgers and my lawyers”
Shohei Ohtani
MLB is currently investigating the claims made by Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara.
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