A professional baseball player who was caught driving under the influence Monday morning has been released by his team, the Uni-President Lions.
Infielder Yang Chia-wei (???) was driving through Yongkang District in Tainan when his car bumped into a small truck heading in the same direction, damaging the truck’s rear bumper.
The police were called to the scene and gave both drivers a breathalyzer test, which revealed that Yang’s blood-alcohol level was 1.03 milligrams per liter, far exceeding the 0.25mg/L maximum limit.
In a statement issued immediately after the incident, Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League said the 26-year-old Yang’s misconduct would lead to a suspension of at least 40 weeks, a fine of up to NT$480,000 (US$17,226), or his release from the team.
Uni-President later announced its decision to release him, saying that Yang’s behavior had violated the team’s code of conduct and the spirit of a professional baseball player.
Yang joined the Lions in 2014. He had been on the team’s minor league affiliate before Monday’s incident.
Another Lions position player, Kuo Fu-lin (???), was caught driving under the influence in Tainan last year, but he was only suspended for two games and fined NT$30,000 (US$1,076).
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel