Former Hiroshima Toyo Carp player Ryutaro Hazuki said during a TikTok live stream that six players, including himself, used an illegal drug [1].
The admission highlights a potential systemic issue with substance abuse within professional sports and the rise of etomidate, a designated illegal substance often called "zombie tobacco" [1].
During the broadcast on Thursday, Hazuki, 26, said he and five other athletes purchased and used the substance [1]. He said that he initially denied the actions to protect his colleagues but decided to reveal the truth to address his lack of awareness regarding the gravity of his behavior [1].
"As a baseball player, I was in a position to give dreams and hope to many people, and I deeply regret that I did not have a sense of crisis regarding those actions," Hazuki said [1].
This confession follows legal proceedings that began earlier this month. During his first trial at the Hiroshima District Court on May 15, Hazuki said there were Carp players around him who were smoking the substance [2]. The court proceedings drew significant public attention; while only 46 observer seats were available, more than 500 people gathered at the courthouse [3].
Hazuki was sentenced to one year in prison, with the sentence suspended for three years [2].
When asked for a response to the latest revelations regarding the other five players, a Hiroshima Carp spokesperson said the team has nothing to react to [1].
“"I deeply regret that I did not have a sense of crisis regarding those actions."”
The involvement of multiple professional athletes in the use of etomidate suggests a gap in drug screening or prevention programs within the league. Because the drug is marketed under the guise of 'tobacco' or electronic delivery systems, it may evade traditional detection and social stigma, complicating the enforcement of anti-doping and behavioral codes for professional athletes.
