Japan has lost its ace badminton player for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics due to gambling charges, despite tearful pleas for mercy from his teammate.

Kento Momota, ranked second among world badminton players, was given an indefinite suspension, which meant that the 21-year-old wouldn’t be able to join the Japanese team in time for the Olympics, the Nippon Badminton Association announced over the weekend, according to Bloomberg.

A Reuters report quoted badminton officials saying “it would be hard to nominate Momota…for a place at Rio after finding out that he and teammate Kenichi Tago gambled at an illegal casino.”

The suspension came despite Tago’s tearful appeal for officials to allow Momota to compete. The 26-year-old told reporters: “I don’t care what punishment I get, even if I can never play badminton again. My only wish is that you give Momota another chance.”