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2008 sumo cannabis scandal

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The sumo cannabis scandal was a series of cannabis scandals in professional sumo since August 2008. 4 wrestlers classified as sekitori, the top two division, Wakanohō, Roho, Hakurozan and Wakakirin was dismissed from sumo,[1] and Kitanoumi Toshimitsu resigned his post as chairman of the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) to take the blame.[2] It was the first case that an active sumo wrestler was dismissed from sumo.[3] After that, JSA added rules that retirement package for dismissed members is reduced or not provided, and that those who use a drug are dismissed in general.[4] Many Japanese news and some English news, such as BBC News[5] and The Daily Telegraph,[6][7] reported it. According to the Japan Times, it was the largest sports scandal of drugs that Japan had ever seen.[8]

Wakanohō

On August 18, 2008, Wakanohō Toshinori was arrested for possession of cannabis.[9] He became the first active sekitori to be arrested.[9] In other words, it was the first case that a sumo wrestler of the top two division was arrested.

On June 24, 2008, a woman found a dropped wallet at Kinshi, Sumida, Tokyo and turned it into the police box.[9] Police found his identity card and a Russian made cigarette including cannabis component.[9] On August 19, police also searched Magaki stable and his apartment, and found a pipe and a cigarette in his private room in Magaki stable, and two pipes and a bag with a little of cannabis at the apartment.[3] On August 21, the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) held a meeting of the board of directors and decided to dismiss him.[3] In addition, Magaki stablemaster, who was his coach, became the first director of JSA to resign.[10] Tsuneo Suzuki, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, told JSA to swiftly appoint external directors.[10] On September 8 Wakanohō was released,[11] and on September 12 the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office decided to suspend an indictment, probably because he was a minor at that time, had not been arrested before, and had only a small amount of cannabis.[12]

On September 11, he filed a suit against JSA for dismissing him and applied for provitional disposition, insisting that his penalty was much heavier than previous cases of misconduct in sumo.[13] On September 29, he hold a press conference and claimed that "I was forcibly handed money to fight unfair bouts."[6][11] He also insists that other wrestlers and coaches were smoking cannabis but they were not being punished.[6][11] According to Doreen Simmons, a sumo commentator for NHK, it would seem that nobody expect such turn of events.[6] Wakanohō's lawyer said that he did not know about it until the day before and he was sorry that he couldn't stop it.[11] Simmons also said, "It looks to me as if Wakanoho has nothing to lose and is looking to get 10 million yen in damages out of JSA."[6]

The trial started on October 27, and on October 30 Tokyo District Court rejected his application.[14] He made an immediate appeal against the sentence, but Tokyo High Court also dismissed it on December 9.[15] He withdrew a suit[16] and decided to go back to Russia in February 2009.[17]

Rohō and Hakurozan

On September 2, 2008, JSA published that the unannounced drug test by urinalysis for sekitori, 69 wrestlers in the sport's top two divisions,[5] showed that Rohō Yukio and Hakurozan Yūta, brothers from Russia, were positive for cannabis.[18] On September 8, JSA decided to dismiss them,[5] because the more detailed tests by Mitsubishi Chemical Medience, which has the only WADA accredited laboratory in Japan, showed that their result was much higher than WADA standard value of cannabis.[19][20] Their stablemasters also lost their positions. Kitanoumi Toshimitsu, the coach of Hakurozan, resigned his post as chairman of JSA to accept responsibility, and Ōtake stablemaster, the coach of Rohō, was demoted from committee member to the lowest rank of stablemasters toshiyori.[19] Musashigawa, the former sumo wrestler of the highest rank yokozuna and the stablemaster of Musashigawa stable, replaced Kitanoumi as JSA's chairman.[5] On the other hand, Rohō and Hakurozan denied using cannabis, and police couldn't find any evidence during a domiciliary search.[20]

They also filed a suit against JSA for dismissing them,[21] and the trial began on February 6, 2009.[22] On April 19, 2010, the Tokyo District Court rejected their claim,[21] and in November the Tokyo High Court also rejected it.[23]

In addition, they claimed 100 million yen compensation for the inappropriate process of drug tests and dismiss, but Tokyo District Court also rejected it on December 10, 2010.[23]

Wakakirin

On January 30, 2009, Wakakirin Shinichi was arrested for red-handed possession of cannabis.[24] He was the first Japanese wrestler of these scandals.[24]

When JSA tested wrestlers of the top two division without announcing before on September 2, 2009, he was tested three times, and the 1st and 2nd tests showed unclear results, but the result of the 3rd check was negative.[24] On January 30, 2009, when police seached the office of CD shop in Roppongi to investigate another case, he tried to hide cannabis wrapped by paper.[24] He admitted his guilt.[24] On February 2, he was dismissed and his coach, Oguruma stablemaster, was demoted to the lowest rank toshiyori.[25]

On April 22, 2009, Yokohama District Court gave him 10 months' imprisonment with a three years' stay of execution.[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ "暴行死に賭博、八百長も／角界の主な不祥事". NikkanSports.com. 2017-11-29. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  2. ^ "昭和の大横綱・北の湖理事長が死去、６２歳". SANSPO.COM. Sankei Digital. 2015-11-20. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  3. ^ a b c "若ノ鵬部屋でも大麻吸引、間垣部屋消滅か". NikkanSports.com. 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  4. ^ "日本相撲協会が退職金の不支給規定を新設". NikkanSports.com. 2009-02-28. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  5. ^ a b c d "Sumo head resigns over drugs row". BBC news. 2008-09-08. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  6. ^ a b c d e Julian Ryall (2008-09-30). "Sumo wrestling engulfed by drug and bullying claims". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  7. ^ Danielle Demetriou (2009-02-04). "Ancient sport of sumo to drug test wrestlers". The telegraph. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  8. ^ Eric Talmadge (2009-02-12). "Nation grapples with pot-smoking sumo wrestlers". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
  9. ^ a b c d "若ノ鵬大麻所持で逮捕、関取初！角界衝撃". NikkanSports.com. 2008-08-19. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  10. ^ a b "若ノ鵬容疑者解雇、現役力士で史上初". NikkanSports.com. 2008-08-22. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  11. ^ a b c d "若ノ鵬「八百長告発会見」で暴走". NikkanSports.com. 2008-09-30. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  12. ^ "元若ノ鵬は起訴猶予に　初犯など考慮". SponichiAnnex. 2008-09-12. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  13. ^ "元若ノ鵬、力士の地位確認求め提訴　「相撲取りたい」". Asahi Shimbun Digital. 2008-09-11. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  14. ^ "元若ノ鵬の地位確認請求を却下　東京地裁". Asahi Shimbun Digital. 2008-10-30. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  15. ^ "元若ノ鵬「クビ不当」高裁にも退けられた". NikkanSports.com. 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  16. ^ "元若ノ鵬が訴え取り下げる". NikkanSports.com. 2009-01-24. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  17. ^ "元若ノ鵬が都内ホテルで私的な「断髪式」". NikkanSports.com. 2009-02-02. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  18. ^ "ロシア出身の兄弟力士、露鵬・白露山から大麻陽性反応". AFPBB news. 2008-09-02. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  19. ^ a b "露鵬は５倍、白露山１０倍の大麻成分検出　国際機関基準". Asahi Shimbun Digital. 2008-09-08. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  20. ^ a b "精密検査でも大麻陽性反応　露鵬と白露山". Asahi Shimbun Digital. 2008-09-06. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  21. ^ a b "元露鵬と元白露山の「解雇、正当なのは当然」　日本相撲協会". Japan Economics Newspaper. 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  22. ^ "元露鵬、白露山「色眼鏡で見られていた」". SponichiAnnex. 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  23. ^ a b "元露鵬らの賠償請求棄却　東京地裁". Japan Economics Newspaper. 2010-12-10. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  24. ^ a b c d e "若麒麟逮捕、角界大麻汚染日本人関取まで". NikkanSports.com. 2009-01-31. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  25. ^ "若麒麟容疑者を解雇処分　相撲協会、引退届認めず". Asahi Shimbun Digital. 2009-02-02. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  26. ^ "大麻所持の元若麒麟に有罪判決". NikkanSports.com. 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
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