Shohei Ohtani: ‘I never bet on baseball or any other sports’
Watch the complete statement by the Dodgers two-way superstar to the media on Monday.
Video Transcript
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
- Thanks, everybody, for coming. I want to point out that Shohei's interpreter is Will Ireton, W-I-L-L I-R-E-T-O-N. We'd ask that you not film this right now on your cell phone, if that's possible, and after Shohei is done, we will not be taking questions. Thanks.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
WILL IRETON: Well, first of all, thank you very much for coming. I wanted to be here today to be able to talk. I'm sure it was very tough. It's been a tough week for fans and team officials, and I'm very grateful that the media has been patient in this process. Just on a personal note, I'm very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
So, obviously, today there's things that I am limited in being able to talk about. I hope you understand. I do have a document in front of me that I will refer to that will detail what has happened.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
So, 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.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
Up until a couple of days ago, I didn't know that this was happening.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
Just to kind of just go over the result, in conclusion, Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has told lies.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
Last weekend, in Korea, media had reached out to a representative in my camp, inquiring about my potential involvement in this sports betting.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
So, Ippei never revealed to me that there was this media inquiry, and to the representatives in my camp, Ippei told to the media and to my representatives that I, you know, on behalf of a friend, paid off a debt.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
Upon further questioning, it was revealed that it was actually, in fact, Ippei who was in debt.
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And told my representatives that I was paying off those debts.
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And all of this has been a complete lie.
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So Ippei, obviously, lied about, you know, basically, didn't tell me about the media inquiry.
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So Ippei has been telling everybody around that Ippei has been communicating with Shohei, on all of this account, you know, to my representatives, to the team, and that hasn't been true.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
The first time I knew about this gambling, Ippei's gambling, was after the first game, when we had the team meeting in the clubhouse.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
So, during the team meeting, obviously, 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.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
Just prior to the meeting, I was told by Ippei, hey, let's talk one to one in the hotel after the meeting. So I waited until then.
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So, up until that team meeting, I didn't know that Ippei had a gambling addiction and was in debt.
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And, obviously, at that point, obviously, I never agreed to pay off the debt or, you know, make payments to the bookmaker.
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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.
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And it was revealed to me during that meeting that Ippei admitted that he was sending money, using my account, to the bookmaker.
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And at that moment, obviously, it was an absurd thing that was happening, and I've contacted my representatives at that point.
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So, when I was finally able to talk to my representatives, that's when my representatives found out the Ippei has been lying the whole time, and that's when I started contacting the Dodgers and my lawyers.
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And the Dodgers and the lawyers, at that moment, found out also as well that they have been lied to.
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And my lawyers recommended that, you know, since this is theft and fraud, that we have the proper authorities handle this matter.
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So, you know, in conclusion, I do want to make it clear that I never bet on sports or have willfully sent money to the bookmaker.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
To summarize how I'm feeling right now, I'm just beyond shocked. It's really hard to verbalize how I am feeling at this point.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
You know, and the season is going to start, so I'm going to, obviously, let my lawyers handle matters from here on out, and I am completely assisting in all investigations that are taking place right now.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
You know, I'm looking forward to focusing on the season. I'm glad that we had this opportunity to talk, and I'm sure there will be continuing investigations moving forward.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
That's it. Thank you very much.
