Ohtani Denies Betting on Sports at News Conference

Superstar Shohei Ohtani denied betting on “baseball or any other sports” and accused his ex-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara of lying and stealing money from his bank account to pay off gambling debts at a news conference in Los Angeles on Monday.

“On a personal note, I’m very saddened and shocked that someone I trusted has done this,” he said through new interpreter Will Ireton at Dodger Stadium. Ohtani read from prepared remarks, didn’t take questions and said that he was limited in what he could reveal due to ongoing investigations.

“I never bet on baseball or any other sports or never have asked somebody to do it on my behalf, and I have never went through a bookmaker to bet on sports,” Ohtani said. “Up until a couple of days ago I didn’t know that this was happening … in conclusion, Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies.”

Mizuahara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers last week after the scandal surfaced. It was reported that the gambling debts totaled $4.5 million. Internal Revenue Service and Major League Baseball investigations are underway. A related federal probe into an illegal bookmaker is also ongoing.

Ohtani said the media reached out to his representatives last week in South Korea, asking about his potential involvement in sports betting. He said Ippei never revealed to him that there was a media inquiry, and Ippei told the media that Ohtani paid off the debt “on behalf of a friend.”

“Upon further questioning, it was revealed that it was Ippei who was in debt,” Ohtani said. “And told my representatives that I was paying off those debts. And this, all of this, has been a complete lie.”

Ohtani said he first learned about Ippei’s gambling addiction at a team meeting in the clubhouse after the Dodgers’ opener last Wednesday in Seoul.

“So during the team meeting, Ippei was speaking in English, and I didn’t have a translator on my side, but even with that, I kind of understood what was going on and started to feel that there was something amiss,” he said.

Before the clubhouse meeting, the 29-year-old said that Ippei asked to speak to him one-on-one at the hotel after it was over.

“And, finally, when we went back to the hotel and talked one-to-one that was when I found out that he had a massive debt,” Ohtani said. “And it was revealed to me during that meeting that Ippei admitted that he was sending money using my account to the bookmaker. And at that moment obviously, it was an absurd thing that was happening and I contacted my representatives.”

Ohtani and his camp then contacted his lawyers and the Dodgers.

“My lawyers recommended that since this is theft and fraud, we have the proper authorities handle this matter,” he said. “So, in conclusion, I do want to make it clear that I never bet on sports or have willfully sent money to the bookmaker. To summarize how I’m feeling right now, I’m just beyond shocked. It’s really hard to verbalize how I’m feeling at this point.”

He added that with the help of his lawyers, he will assist in all the ongoing investigations and is looking forward to the season.