Sumo: Holding of Nagoya meet to be decided July 4+

TOKYO, June 21 Kyodo -
With fresh revelations of an ever-expanding gambling scandal rocking the world
of sumo, it has been called into question whether or not the Nagoya Grand Sumo
Tournament scheduled for next month should be held as planned.
Embattled Japan Sumo Association Chairman Musashigawa, who spoke at a press
conference following an executive meeting on Monday, has come under fire as one
of his main proteges was found to have indulged in illicit betting activities.
''We are making preparations to hold the Nagoya meet, but we will have another
debate on the issue at an executive meeting on July 4, after we have received a
report from the special investigative panel looking into illegal gambling,''
said Musashigawa.
Top-division wrestler Miyabiyama, a veteran of the Musashigawa stable who once
held the second-highest rank of ozeki, has joined the list of wrestlers linked
to illegal gambling on baseball games but the issue of Musashigawa's
responsibility as his mentor was not raised at the executive meeting.
On July 4, JSA officials will also deliberate on whether to refrain from
revealing the names of all the association members who have been involved in
gambling as well as the punishments that should be imposed.
A special third-party panel investigating illegal gambling, headed by Tokyo
University honorary professor Shigeru Ito, was also approved and it will
question 29 members who have admitted to gambling on baseball as part of the
probe in its first meeting.
The panel consists of 10 members and 20 lawyers will be brought in who are
scheduled to question the 29 from Tuesday through Sunday.
An advisory committee of sumo elders and some of the top-ranking active
wrestlers are likely to meet to explain details of the forthcoming
investigation on Tuesday.
Sources at the JSA said Miyabiyama admitted to gambling on baseball in recent
police questioning.
It had been believed that the 32-year-old earlier admitted to gambling only on
other activities, including mahjong and ''hanafuda'' games using Japanese
playing cards, in a statement he has submitted to the JSA.
Miyabiyama made his debut in professional sumo in 1998 and reached the ozeki
rank -- just below the top rank of yokozuna -- in 2000. He was demoted from
ozeki after eight tournaments but has stayed in the top division.
Chiyohakuho of the second-tier juryo division, who belongs to the Kokonoe
stable run by former yokozuna great Chiyonofuji, is another new name to surface
in the most recent scandal to taint the ancient national sport less than three
weeks before the start of the Nagoya meet.
Stablemasters Otake and Tokitsukaze, ozeki Kotomitsuki and other wrestlers in
the top makuuchi division -- Toyonoshima, Goeido and Toyohibiki -- have also
admitted to gambling on baseball.
Kotoshogiku, who is the fourth-highest rank of komusubi and belongs to the same
Sadogatake stable as Kotomitsuki, and juryo wrestlers Kiyoseumi and Futeno also
wagered on baseball, JSA sources said.
Kotomitsuki, who previously denied gambling on baseball, has already pulled out
of the Nagoya meet and is suspended for the time being.
''Kotomitsuki has ruled himself out for the Nagoya meet but there are others
who might have to opt out,'' said Musashigawa, who said that the question of
whether he will step down as JSA chief will be dealt with after sumo cleans up
its act.
''We have to get rid of all unsavory elements and make this an association that
does not have scandals. If I have to take responsibility it will come after
that.''
In a recent survey conducted by the JSA on illegal gambling, 65 association
members, including sumo elders, said they have been involved in gambling of
some kind, 29 of them on baseball games -- which is suspected of being run by
gangsters.
The remaining 36 who took part in other gambling activities might also be
questioned by the special investigative panel.
Also, food manufacturer Nagatanien Co. said on Monday that due to the gambling
scandal it will not provide cash rewards to any wrestlers in the case that the
Nagoya meet is held.
The company normally allocates about 200 envelopes, or 12 million yen, in prize
money per sumo tournament.
The new rankings for the 15-day Nagoya tournament, due to begin on July 11, are
scheduled to be released on June 28.
==Kyodo
2010-06-21 23:18:38


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