Dodgers’ Ohtani denies betting on sports

loS AngElES — Dodgers star Shohei ohtani said monday he never bet on sports and interpreter Ippei mizuhara stole money from him and told lies.

ohtani held a news conference at Dodger Stadium, five days after mizuhara was fired by the Dodgers following reports about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well over $1 million.

“I am very saddened and shocked someone whom I trusted has done this,” the Japanese star said, with translation from Will Ireton, the team’s manager of performance operations.

ohtani spoke for nearly 12 minutes, referring to a document. He did not take questions.

“Ippei has been stealing money from my account and has been telling lies,” ohtani said.

“I never bet on sports or have willfully sent money to the bookmaker.”

A two-time mVP, ohtani left the Angels in December to sign a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers.

“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,” ohtani said. “[I] was never asked to assist betting payment for anyone else.”

the IRS has confirmed mizuhara and mathew bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s los Angeles field office.

mizuhara told ESPn on march 19 that ohtani paid his gambling debts at the interpreter’s request and the bets were on international soccer, the nbA, the nfl, and college football.

mlb rules prohibit players and team employees from wagering — even legally — on baseball, and also ban betting on other sports with illegal or offshore bookmakers.

ESPn said mizuhara changed his story the following day, claiming ohtani had no knowledge of the gambling debts and had not transferred any money to bookmakers.

“All of this has been a complete lie,” ohtani said. “Ippei obviously basically didn’t tell me about the media inquiry.

“So Ippei has been telling everyone around that he has been communicating with me on this account to the media and my team and that hasn’t been true.”

ohtani said he became aware of mizuhara’s gambling problem during a team meeting after last Wednesday’s season opener against the Padres in Seoul.