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Shohei Ohtani Addresses Allegations of Betting Scandal
Los Angeles Dodgers sensation Shohei Ohtani held a press conference at Dodger Stadium to address the recent scandal involving his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Ohtani vehemently denied any involvement in sports betting activities and expressed shock and disappointment at Mizuhara’s actions.
Sitting alongside Will Ireton, the team’s manager of performance operations who acted as a translator, Ohtani spoke for nearly 12 minutes, reading from a document placed in front of him. Dressed in Dodgers attire, the Japanese star made it clear that he was blindsided by Mizuhara’s deceitful behavior.
Ohtani stated, “Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has been telling lies. I never bet on sports or have willfully sent money to the bookmaker.” He adamantly denied any involvement in gambling on baseball or any other sports, emphasizing that he never authorized anyone to place bets on his behalf.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has confirmed that both Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker in question, are currently under criminal investigation by the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. This revelation has further added to the gravity of the situation.
Recounting the Events
Ohtani recounted how he first learned of Mizuhara’s gambling troubles during a team meeting following a victory over the San Diego Padres in Seoul, South Korea. The interpreter initially claimed that Ohtani had covered his gambling debts, which Mizuhara later admitted were related to bets on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL, and college football.
Despite Mizuhara’s statements to the media, Ohtani maintained, “All of this has been a complete lie.” He expressed frustration over the interpreter’s dishonesty and lack of transparency regarding the situation. Ohtani clarified that he had no prior knowledge of Mizuhara’s gambling activities and vehemently denied any involvement in settling his debts.
As a two-time MVP and one of baseball’s brightest stars, Ohtani’s reputation has been called into question by these allegations. It remains to be seen how this scandal will impact his career and the ongoing investigation into Mizuhara and Bowyer’s illegal activities.
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