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Asashoryu unstable, stable master says

Sumo grand champion Asashoryu waits at the edge of the ring at an exhibition sumo wrestling match outside Tokyo's Yasukuni shrine on April 13. PHOTO: AP

Top-ranked sumo champion Asashoryu needs to see a psychiatrist after being shaken up by the severe punishment handed out by the sport's authorities, his stable master said.

The Japan Sumo Association has banned the Mongolian legend from competing until late in November after he was caught playing in a charity soccer game in his home country despite skipping a tour.

"He has become mentally unstable. I will find a psychiatrist and get him to receive treatment from next week," stable master Takasago said, as quoted on Friday by the Nikkan Sports daily.

The Sports Nippon quoted Takasago as saying Asashoryu was making incoherent remarks and "seems to be taking a tranquilizer."

Asashoryu has not been able to sleep and has sent his family back to Mongolia amid the scandal, the Sports Nippon said.

"He thinks all the efforts he made in the past have been denied and he is asking himself why," Takasago was quoted as saying by the Mainichi Shimbun.
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