A disgraced Russian sumo wrestler yesterday threatened to lift the lid on drug use, match-fixing and other “evil things” plaguing the ancient sport.
Soslan Gagloev, 20, rose quickly through the ranks under the ring name Wakanoho, but was thrown out last month for marijuana possession and has since tried unsuccessfully to return.
Wakanoho has since filed a lawsuit, demanding the association reinstate him as a sumo wrestler and pay his monthly salary until he is hired back.
“The current sumo world is dirty and I wouldn’t be able to forgive it even if I can return,” he told reporters through a translator.
“I was forced to play unfair matches in return for money as soon as I entered makuuchi,” the highest echelon of the sumo ranks, he said. “I was forced to accept money and put in unfair bouts.”
“My stable master and others knew [about bout-fixing] but nobody stepped in because they had also been playing unfair matches themselves,” Gagloev said.
He said other stable masters and wrestlers were smoking marijuana but not being punished.
He did not name names in the 10-minute press conference, but said he was ready to testify in court to back the publisher of a magazine that accused grand champion Asashoryu and others of fixing matches.
“I also want to tell all other evil things that I know,” he said, adding he wanted to clean up the sport.
In tests conducted by the Japan Sumo Association, two other Russians — Roho and Hakurozan — also tested positive for the drug. They were expelled and the head of the sumo association resigned.
On Monday, Wakanoho told reporters it was unfair that only the three Russians were punished over the drug scandal.
“How come those Japanese trainers and wrestlers who are the ones smoking marijuana are not punished?” he asked, without elaborating.
The sumo association has previously denied bout-fixing allegations. It had no immediate comment on Wakanoho’s accusations yesterday.
Asashoryu, a Mongolian, has flatly denied match-fixing. He has joined other wrestlers and the association in a libel suit against Japan’s top publisher Kodansha, seeking tens of millions of yen in damages.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care