MLB player given life ban for betting on own team

Major League Baseball infielder Tucupita Marcano has been banned for life for placing hundreds of bets connected nan athletics - including connected his ain team's games.

The 24-year-old was recovered to person placed 387 shot bets, including 231 MLB-related bets from October 2022 to November 2023, while he was a Pittsburgh Pirates player.

Marcano, who has not played this play because of a knee injury, did not look successful immoderate of nan games concerned which came earlier he began a 2nd spell pinch nan San Diego Padres past November.

In total, MLB said Marcano stake much than $150,000 (£117,322.50) connected baseball, pinch $87,319 (£68,296.56) of that connected MLB-related bets.

Marcano denies that immoderate outcomes successful nan shot games connected which he placed bets were compromised, influenced aliases manipulated successful immoderate way.

Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly, who separately placed bets connected 9 MLB games, has been banned for 1 year.

The 31-year-old Kelly stake a full of $99.22 (£77.60) for a nett triumph of $28.30 (£22.13) from those bets.

"The strict enforcement of Major League Baseball's rules and policies governing gambling behaviour is simply a captious constituent of upholding our astir important priority: protecting nan integrity of our games for nan fans," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said successful a statement.

MLB launched an investigation into gambling aft receiving accusation from sports betting companies.

The past progressive subordinate to person a life prohibition for gambling had been New York Giants outfielder Jimmy O'Connell successful 1924.

Three insignificant convention players person received bans for breaching nan betting rules, pinch Padres pitcher Jay Groome, Philadelphia Phillies infielder Jose Rodriguez and Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Andrew Saalfrank each declared ineligible for 1 year.