Japanese authorities rearrested a 38-year-old man on Monday for allegedly supplying a restricted drug to a former professional baseball player [1], [2].

This case highlights the illicit distribution of etomidate, commonly known as "zombie tobacco," within professional sports circles and the legal crackdown on its suppliers [1].

Ryosuke Takiguchi, a self-employed resident of Chiyoda Ward in Tokyo, was taken into custody by the Hiroshima Prefectural Police on June 1 [1], [2], [3]. Investigators said Takiguchi is suspected of illegally transferring etomidate to Ryutaro Hazuki, a former player for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp [1], [2].

Takiguchi had previously been arrested in early May for the possession of the same substance [1], [2]. The current charges focus on the act of transferring the drug to Hazuki, who used the substance [1], [3].

Hazuki's own legal battles have reached a critical juncture. He was previously sentenced to one year of imprisonment with a three-year stay of execution [2]. His deadline to appeal that sentence was May 29 [1].

During the investigation, the scope of the drug's reach within the team became a focal point. Hazuki said, "Including myself, six Carp players purchased from the same person" [1]. This statement suggests that at least seven players in total may have been involved in transactions with the same supplier [1].

Etomidate is a restricted drug in Japan. When used in a manner similar to smoking, it can cause a state of temporary paralysis or disorientation, leading to its street name, "zombie tobacco" [1].

“"Including myself, six Carp players purchased from the same person"”

The arrest of Ryosuke Takiguchi and the testimony provided by Ryutaro Hazuki suggest a systemic issue of drug procurement within the Hiroshima Toyo Carp organization. By identifying a single source for multiple players, the investigation shifts from individual substance abuse to a wider criminal network supplying professional athletes, which may trigger further league-wide probes into drug use and the efficacy of current screening protocols.