MLB Launches Probe into Shohei Ohtani Translator Scandal

By -

 Major League Baseball announced Friday it is formalizing its investigation into allegations involving Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, days after Mizuhara was accused of conducting a “massive theft” of Ohtani’s funds and later fired by the Dodgers.


 The MLB announced the formalized probe in a brief statement Friday evening, saying it’s been gathering information since it learned about the allegations through news reports.

The MLB’s Department of Investigations will be conducting the probe, according to the statement.

The start of the probe comes a day after Mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers following accusations from Ohtani’s representatives accusing him of stealing the star player’s money to place sports bets—an illegal form of gambling in California.

Ohtani is the highest-paid player in the MLB after securing a $700 million deal with the Dodgers three months ago.

The MLB Department of Investigations and attorneys for Ohtani didn’t immediately respond to our request for comment.

It is unclear what kind of resources the MLB is allocating for the investigation into the high-profile scandal. The league also didn’t share a timeline for the probe.

Mizuhara was accused of placing bets with Ohtani’s money through an alleged bookie named Matthew Bowyer, who is under federal investigation. At least $4.5 million in wire transfers was removed from Ohtani’s bank account in the scheme, according to ESPN, which was told by Mizuhara that he dug himself in a hole while gambling. The interpreter also told ESPN he racked up $4 million worth of gambling debt and that Ohtani agreed to pay it off, later recanting the statement and claiming Ohtani was unaware of his gambling debts. At the age of just 29, Ohtani is considered one of the greatest MLB players of all time, a reputation built by his dual-threat proficiency as a top pitcher and hitter—an unheard of feat in modern baseball.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Characters In BBC’s Documentary On TB Joshua Unknown To Us – Synagogue Church

By -
Image
  The Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN) has countered the BBC documentary on the late Temitope Babatunde Joshua, known as TB Joshua, founder of SCOAN. SCOAN described the documentary against TB Joshua as unfounded, and that the characters interviewed in the report were unknown to the church. The church, in a statement signed by its Public Affairs Director, Mr Dare Adejumo, said the statement was aimed at disabusing public minds from the report. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the BBC released a highly controversial and damning documentary on the late TB Joshua on Monday, accusing him of various crimes, including rape, against some members. SCOAN said, “BBC World Services investigative unit, code-named Africa Eye, came out this week with weird and strange episodes of atrocities against the late founder of SCOAN.” It said that to investigate and publish or broadcast reports was a central kernel of journalism, but to do so outside the ethics and fundamental principles
Read more

NBA Suspends Canada’s Joshua Primo For 4 Games For Exposing Himself To Women

By -
Image
  The NBA has suspended former San Antonio Spurs guard  Joshua Primo   for four games   ... after it says it found he exposed his private parts to multiple women. The league announced the ban on Friday morning ... saying an investigation into the free agent revealed he had "engaged in inappropriate and offensive behavior." NBA officials called his actions "conduct detrimental to the league." They did, however, note that they "did not find evidence that he engaged in any sexual or other misconduct apart from these brief exposures." "Primo maintains that his conduct was not intentional," the league said. Dr. Hillary Cauthen , Primo's former therapist, was the first to  bring the allegations  against Primo to light after she claimed last fall that he exposed himself to her on nine separate occasions. Dr. Cauthen's attorney,  Tony Buzbee , alleged the Spurs were aware of Primo's actions, but didn't take action. Cauthen went on to file
Read more

Sky Sports' On-Air Mix-Up: Chelsea Players Mistakenly Introduced as Axel Disasi Instead of Noni Madueke in Carabao Cup Semifinal

By -
Image
 Sky Sports were left red-faced after an on-screen graphic mistakenly introduced Chelsea defender Axel Disasi as Noni Madueke on Tuesday night. The pair were both the scoresheet as the Blues thrashed Middlesbrough 6-1 at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final to boo their place at Wembley. But when Disasi spoke to Sky Sports after the game, an on-screen graphic introduced him as Madueke instead. Madueke is four years younger than his Chelsea teammate, plays in a different role and is English, while Disasi is French. Viewers immediately spotted the mistake and took to social media to flag up the glaring error.  Sky Sports with a huge mistake as that is Axel Disasi, not Noni Madueke,' another added, while a third described the gaffe as a 'howler'. A fourth commented: 'Sky sports calling Disasi Madueke. They’ve done it again.' Disasi scored Chelsea's third goal in the 6-1 rout, converting Raheem Sterling's cross at the far post after th
Read more