Former Hiroshima Carp player Ryutaro Hazuki said six players, including himself, purchased the controlled drug etomidate from the same source [1].
The revelation suggests a wider network of drug use within professional sports circles and raises questions about the integrity of initial police investigations.
Speaking during a TikTok live stream on the night of May 28, Hazuki addressed his previous legal battles involving the substance, commonly known as "zombie tobacco" [2]. He said that six people from the player community bought the drug from a single individual [1].
Hazuki also addressed why he initially denied using the substance after his arrest at his home in Naka Ward, Hiroshima City [2]. He said he denied the use to buy time before police investigations could reach the other players involved [3].
This confession follows a legal process that concluded in December 2025 [1]. At that time, Hazuki received a sentence of one year of imprisonment, suspended for three years [1].
During the broadcast, which took place around 8 p.m. on May 28, Hazuki provided details that contradicted his earlier statements to authorities [2]. The use of etomidate is strictly regulated as a designated controlled substance in Japan due to its potent sedative effects.
“"Six people, including myself, were purchasing (the controlled drug) from the same person."”
The admission by Hazuki indicates that the initial scope of the drug investigation may have been narrower than the actual scale of distribution. By claiming that multiple athletes were supplied by a single source, the case shifts from an isolated incident of substance abuse to a potential systemic issue involving a supplier with access to professional athletes.
