TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese badminton star has admitted to gambling at an illegal casino, damaging his chances of competing at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Kento Momota gambled at a Tokyo casino which was raided by police last May and has since closed, Kyodo News reported Thursday.
Momota, who is second in the world rankings, became the first Japanese man to win a World Championships singles medal when he took bronze in Jakarta last August.
Nippon Badminton Association secretary general Kinji Zeniya said it would be “unable to nominate” Momota to compete at the Olympics.