On Monday, Shohei Ohtani addressed the sports betting issue involving his former interpreter, stating that he had never bet on sports or knowingly paid any gambling debts.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar broke his silence on the incident, painting a picture of treachery by his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, but denying any involvement.
Ohtani alleged that his close friend lied to him for years and stole millions from the two-time MVP. During a press conference at Dodger Stadium five days after Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers, Ohtani stated.
“I am deeply disappointed and horrified that someone I trusted has done this. Ippei has been stealing money from my account while telling lies. I have never bet on sports or knowingly transferred money to a bookmaker.”
He also added:
“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 and was never asked to assist betting payment for anyone else.”
Following allegations by the Los Angeles Times and ESPN regarding alleged ties to an illicit bookmaker and debts totaling more than $1 million. Mizuhara, 39, was reportedly fired as a translator last week after attorneys for the Japanese prodigy claimed he was the victim of a “massive theft.”
The IRS is also initiating a criminal investigation into Mizuhara, and Major League Baseball is conducting an internal investigation.
The IRS has also verified that Mizuhara and the alleged illegal bookmaker, Mathew Bowyer, are under criminal investigation by the agency’s Los Angeles field office.
According to Nippon.com, Mizuhara met Ohtani while working as an interpreter for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League.
