Brother Elephants player Chen Chih-yuan (陳致遠) yesterday denied he was involved in a game-fixing scandal, saying he did not know Tsai Cheng-yi (蔡政宜), nicknamed the “Windshield Wiper,” who is suspected of having bribed players to throw games.
“I don’t know ‘Windshield Wiper’ and I have never had a meal with him, and no, I don’t recall having met anyone affiliated with him,” Chen said at a press conference yesterday.
Chen was accompanied by his lawyer, Tsai Jui-lin (蔡瑞麟).
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Local media reported late last week that Tsai Cheng-yi had confessed to prosecutors that Chen accepted bribes.
Tsai Jui-lin said a witness in the game-fixing probe had indicated Chen might be involved, but prosecutors did not accept the witness’ testimony because he heard the allegation from someone else and had not seen any evidence.
Dubbed the “Golden Warrior,” Chen was voted most valuable player by the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) in 2001, 2002 and 2003. In 2003, he was also chosen as the best outfielder, collecting the Golden Glove Award. He was drafted by the national baseball team to compete in the International baseball championships several times.
Chen said news of his alleged involvement in the game-fixing scandal had greatly affected him and he had felt depressed. On the advice of his lawyer, he requested the team’s permission to take a couple of days leave, Chen said.
“Now, I just want to return to the team and practice with my teammates,” Chen said.
The Brother Elephants suspended Chen’s salary last week. Club manager Yang Ai-hua (楊愛華) said the club would reimburse Chen once it was clear that he was not involved in game-fixing.
Club president Hong Ruei-he (洪瑞河) said he believed Chen was innocent after hearing Chen’s testimony and that he would not penalize Chen further.
Hong said he hoped the allegations leveled at Chen were only rumors and that they would cause no further damage to the club.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the game-fixing scandal, Minister of Education Wu Ching-chi (吳清基) yesterday vowed to strengthen the ethical education of school athletes.
Wu and several school athletes signed a sportsmanship declaration at a press conference while holding six torches, which the ministry said symbolized discipline and self-respect.
Wu said ethical education of school athletes needed to be enhanced to teach them the right values since the game-fixing controversy had disheartened many Taiwanese baseball fans.
Department of Physical Education Director Wang Chun-chuan (王俊權) said part of the ministry’s plan was to promote an oath that athletes would have to take at the beginning of every sports event at school.
It includes the concepts of self-discipline and resistance to temptation, Wang said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG
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