Hiroshima Carp players investigated over illegal “zombie tobacco” drug

The Hiroshima Toyo Carp announced that police conducted home searches on two of its players after a former player, former pitcher Ryuta Haza, was arrested and convicted for using the controlled substance etomidate, known in the media as “zombie tobacco.”

Team owner Masao Matsuda expressed shock and apologized to fans, while the club faced criticism for its handling of the scandal. The investigation has led to the deregistration of player Masaya Yano and heightened scrutiny of other players, including Seita Maekawa and Shunsuke Tamura, who were linked to the drug network. Fan attendance has dropped and the organization is under pressure to restore trust.

Experts, such as Professor Yuji Iketani of the University of Tokyo, noted that etomidate is a legitimate anesthetic abroad but is not approved for use in Japan, raising concerns about its illicit distribution among athletes.