Sumo event halted over bout-fixing
The crisis in Japan's national sport deepened this weekend when sumo wrestling's governing body scrapped a major spring tournament as it struggles to deal with match-rigging claims.
The decision on next month's Basho – the first cancellation since the Second World War – follows an admission by two top-division wrestlers and a retired coach that they had thrown bouts for money. Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association, Hanaregoma, said the revelations were "unforgivable". "What I am about to say marks the darkest ever chapter in the long history of sumo," he said. "Until we can completely root out corruption in the sport, we cannot show sumo in the ring."
State broadcaster NHK, which has sole rights to cover sumo tournaments, had already announced it was pulling the plug on live coverage of the event in Osaka.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies