25th September, 2018
Former sumo wrestler Takanohana, who held the top rank of ‘yokozuna’, handed his resignation to the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) on Tuesday, according to local media, in the latest twist in a scandal that rocked the sport last year.
Takanohana failed to report that a wrestler he coached named Takanoiwa had been beaten by grand champion Harumafuji, who was forced to retire last November after taking responsibility for injuring the junior wrestler.
As Takanoiwa’s stablemaster, Takanohana had a responsibility to report the incident, but failed to do so and was subsequently dismissed earlier this year as a JSA board director.
Takanohana failed to regain his spot on the board in an election in February before being demoted to the lowest rank in the JSA’s hierarchy in March.
The 46-year-old won 22 tournaments in sumo’s top division when he was an active wrestler around the turn of the century, and was the 65th man to achieve the rank of yokozuna.