World · East Asia & Pacific · 4 hrs ago
Hiroshima prosecutors drop case against two former Carp players
Hiroshima prosecutors declined to indict former Carp players Masaya Yano and Seita Maekawa on October 16.
The case involved suspected violations of Japan’s pharmaceutical law over etomidate, a controlled drug sometimes called “zombie cigarettes.”
Police sent the two players to prosecutors on September 25 over suspected possession or receipt of the drug.
Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to establish the alleged facts.
The Hiroshima Carp had said police searched the players’ homes in July as part of an investigation linked to former player Ryutaro Hatsuki’s drug issue.
The team will not renew their contracts for next season, along with those of two other players.
The decision not to indict closes this case against Yano and Maekawa, while the team’s contract decision remains in place.
Hiroshima prosecutors dropped the case against former Hiroshima Carp players Masaya Yano and Seita Maekawa.
The players had been referred to prosecutors on suspicion of violating a law regulating medicines and medical devices in a case involving etomidate, sometimes called “zombie tobacco.”
The prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to establish the facts referred to them.
Hiroshima police referred the players to prosecutors on September 25.
The Carp have said they will not offer either player a contract for next season.
- Who
- Former Hiroshima Carp players Masaya Yano, 27, and Seita Maekawa, 23.
- What
- Prosecutors dropped the case against them over alleged violations involving etomidate, a designated drug.
- When
- October 16, 2026.
- Where
- Hiroshima, Japan.
- Why
- Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to establish the facts referred to them.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Carp said police had searched Yano’s and Maekawa’s homes over suspected links to a drug issue involving former player Ryutaro Hatsuki.
Hiroshima police referred Yano and Maekawa to prosecutors on suspicion of violating the law regulating medicines and medical devices.
Hiroshima prosecutors dropped the case, citing insufficient evidence.
- Players
- Masaya Yano, 27; Seita Maekawa, 23
- Drug
- Etomidate, described as a designated drug and sometimes called “zombie tobacco
- Referral date
- September 25, 2026
- Decision
- Hiroshima District Public Prosecutors Office dropped the case on October 16, 2026
- Next season
- The Carp said they would not offer either player a contract
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事実を認定するに足りる十分な証拠がない
送致事実を認定するに足りる十分な証拠がない