Taiwan's gambling-sensitive shortstop prospects exit → 158km bullpen and one-top center field suspended
Aug 12, 2024
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It was only on the 2nd that Taiwanese media reported that the 23-year-old shortstop Zeng Chuan Province, belonging to the CPBL Weiquan Dragons, was arrested during a police raid at an illegal casino in January.
According to Taiwan 'mirror media'Taiwan Province admitted to playing Texas Holdham poker at an illegal casino, but insisted it was not gambling' After further investigation, the player was charged with illegal gambling.
Since then, CPBL has been suspended for 10 games for violating the player's code of conduct, and his team Wei Quan has increased its intensity even more and has been disciplined to terminate the contract as of August 3.
However, it has become difficult for Weiquan's club to avoid criticism as it did not inform the arrest after first finding out about it, but took further action through media reports. The 23-year-old team's top prospect shortstop, Zeng Chuan, is virtually on the verge of ending his career.
It wasn't the end. On the 6th, it was revealed that two additional first-team main players from Wei Quan entered the casino. A photo of Guotensin, a 24-year-old center fielder, and Jang Cheong-yu, a shortstop, enjoying games at the casino was released online, sparking controversy.
It is known that they did not gamble illegally. However, Wei Qian has failed to manage the lives of the players and apologizes to the fans for entering controversial venues""In the future, players will be prohibited from entering casinos or betting game-related venues, regardless of whether they are legal or not." he announced.
The Weiquan club suspended the players for five games and imposed a one-month pay cut. The CPBL suspended these players for an additional seven games.
It wasn't the end here. This time, fastball bullpen pitcher Zeng Junwe, who throws 158km of Fubang Guardians, was suspended for entering the casino. Zeng Junwe, a former World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team member and pitcher who received attention as soon as he debuted as a 22-year-old fireballer, has been a must-win team for Fubang since the 2021 season.
On the 6th, the Fubang club issued a press release saying, `We will suspend Zeng Jun-we and fine him for 1.5 months' salary, and the amount will be donated to charity.' In the future, the club will prohibit all team members and employees from entering such places. Violators will be severely punished without leniency." CPBL also suspended Zeng Junwe for an additional seven games.
Except for Zeng Chuan Province, which was expelled from Weiquan, the rest of the players did not enter illegal casino facilities or bet excessive amounts. However, Taiwanese clubs and leagues are bound to be sensitive to players entering casinos themselves. This is because the league has a dark history of being decomposed in the air due to related scandals, constantly suffering from controversy over game manipulation such as coaches and players in the 1990s and late 2000s.
Even if it is not illegal gambling, professional baseball players are taking more strict measures because entering and leaving casino facilities can damage the reputation of the league and the club.
youll@sportschosun.com
