LA Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani denies betting on baseball, ‘saddened, shocked’ by friend Ippei Mizuhara’s actions
- Ohtani says suggestions he knew about Mizuhara’s use of illegal bookmaker ‘complete lies’
- Japanese superstar accuses ex-interpreter of stealing from his bank account to pay off millions of dollars in gambling debts
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Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani said Monday he had never bet on baseball or other sports, declaring himself “saddened and shocked” after accusing his interpreter of stealing from his bank account to pay off millions of dollars in gambling debts.
In his first public comments on the scandal which erupted last week and led to the firing of his long-time friend and translator Ippei Mizuhara, Ohtani emphasised he had been the victim of a theft and that he had no knowledge of Mizuhara’s gambling problems before last week.
But in a 12-minute appearance where he delivered a statement to the press, Ohtani refused to take any questions from reporters and did not explain how Mizuhara was able to transfer US$4.5 million out of a bank account without his knowledge.
“I never bet on baseball or any other sports and I never have asked somebody to do that on my behalf and I have never went through a bookmaker to bet on sports,” Ohtani said through a translator.
Ohtani, the biggest star in baseball, who joined the Dodgers last December in a record-breaking US$700 million deal, said he had only learned of the revelations involving Mizuhara after last Wednesday’s season-opening win against the San Diego Padres in Seoul.
Ohtani said an interview Mizuhara gave to ESPN last Tuesday before the scandal broke, in which his translator said the star had knowingly wired money to a California bookmaker to pay off the interpreter’s gambling debts was “a complete lie”.
“Obviously I never agreed to pay off this debt or make payments to the bookmakers,” the 29-year-old told reporters at Dodger Stadium.
“All of this has been a complete lie. Until a couple of days ago I didn’t know this was happening … Ippei has stolen money from my account and told lies.
“I’m very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this,” Ohtani said of the allegations.
Ohtani said the first time he became aware of Mizuhara’s gambling problem was when the interpreter addressed the Dodgers locker room – in English – after their win over the Padres in South Korea last Wednesday.
The two men had a one-to-one meeting at the team hotel after addressing the locker room, in which Mizuhara allegedly admitted he had been raiding Ohtani’s bank account without his knowledge to settle gambling debts.
“It was revealed to me during that meeting, Ippei admitted he was sending money using my account to the bookmaker,” Ohtani said.
“To summarise how I’m feeling right now: I’m just beyond shocked. It’s really hard to verbalise how I’m feeling at this point.”
Major League Baseball on Friday announced it had launched a formal investigation into the allegations which have rocked the sport as it gears up for the new season.
MLB is expected to request interviews with all parties, including Ohtani and Mizuhara, although officials cannot compel Mizuhara’s cooperation because he no longer works in the major leagues.
“I’m going to let my lawyers handle this from here on out and I am completely assisting in all investigations that are taking place right now,” Ohtani said.
