At least three sumo wrestlers have
admitted fixing matches, Japan`s sport minister told a
parliament panel today, as a strengthening scandal engulfed
the tradition-soaked sport.
|Last Updated: Feb 03, 2011, 05:55 PM IST|Source: Bureau
Tokyo: At least three sumo wrestlers have
admitted fixing matches, Japan`s sport minister told a
parliament panel today, as a strengthening scandal engulfed
the tradition-soaked sport.
Japanese education and sport minister Yoshiaki Takaki,
who oversees the sumo industry, said the head of the Japan
Sumo Association had informed his ministry that three
wrestlers had confessed to fixing results, Jiji Press said.
The report came a day after sumo association chairman
Hanaregoma issued an apology over claims that wrestlers had
colluded, but stopped short of confirming the allegations.
Bout-rigging claims have long stalked the sport, which
has its roots in Japan`s native Shinto religion, but there has
never previously been any confirmation.
Local media said yesterday that police found messages
indicating wrestlers were trading wins or fixing fights during
an investigation last year into organised crime-linked
gambling in sumo circles.
The messages were discovered on cellphones confiscated
from several wrestlers during a probe into betting on
baseball, media reports said.
The new allegations are the latest controversy to throw
light on the cloistered world of a ritualistic male-only event
in which contestants toss salt to purify the ring before
fights.
That image has been tarnished with revelations of drug
use, extortion and the 2007 death of a trainee who died during
hazing.
Last year, scores of sumo wrestlers, who are expected to
act as role models in Japan, admitted to betting illegally on
baseball games in gambling organised by bookmakers linked to
organised crime.
Bureau Report
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.