Sumo stables searched over wrestlers` gambling scandal

TOKYO, July 7 Kyodo -
Police raided the Onomatsu stable and other sumo stables on Wednesday to look
for evidence of illegal gambling in a scandal rocking Japan's national sport,
with dozens of other places expected to be searched before Sunday's start of a
grand tournament in Nagoya.
The searches represent a big step in building cases against active and former
sumo wrestlers involved following the Japan Sumo Association's dismissal last
Sunday of top-division grappler Kotomitsuki and stablemaster Otake for gambling
on professional baseball games.
The Onomatsu stable, located in Narashino, Chiba Prefecture, is suspected of
having played a central role in the wrestlers' gambling, which was allegedly
run by a bookie linked to gangsters. Kotomitsuki and Otake are alleged to have
repeatedly gambled through the stable.
Other stables searched Wednesday include the Miyagino stable in Tokyo's Sumida
Ward, to which Hakuho, the lone top-ranking yokozuna, belongs, and the
Tokitsukaze stable in the same ward. While Hakuho was not involved in the
gambling, his trainer was allegedly an intermediary in the scheme and a
lower-ranked wrestler serving as his assistant apparently was involved.
''I have instructed all association members to cooperate with the
investigation,'' said Hiroyoshi Murayama, acting chairman of the sumo governing
body. ''We will take additional necessary measures (to eliminate gangster ties)
after the outcome of the investigation is known.''
The Onomatsu stable was home to a 34-year-old former wrestler who has indicated
the involvement of gangsters in the gambling, and its 29-year-old hairdresser
who allegedly served as an intermediary, according to people familiar with the
case.
Stablemaster Onomatsu, who has been demoted by the association due to
involvement in the gambling by several wrestlers at his stable, apologized on
Wednesday, telling reporters, ''I'm sorry for causing this commotion. Please
forgive me for not being able to answer your questions because of the ongoing
investigation.''
Following the searches that were also conducted at those stables' dormitories
in Aichi Prefecture, the association said it will turn down all prize cups to
be presented to the champion at the upcoming 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo
Tournament, including the prime minister's cup and the emperor's cup.
The police last month arrested Mitsutomo Furuichi, a 38-year-old former
wrestler, on suspicion of extorting 3.5 million yen in hush money from ozeki
Kotomitsuki.
Besides dismissing Kotomitsuki and Otake and demoting Onomatsu, the association
has demoted stablemaster Tokitsukaze for being involved in gambling on baseball
games while he was an active wrestler.
Of the 24 wrestlers who the association says gambled on baseball games, 18 are
suspended from competing at the upcoming tournament, which public broadcaster
NHK has decided to air only in digests at the end of each day, rather than
live, due to public criticism over the scandal.
Kotomitsuki, 34, whose real name is Keiji Tamiya, became the first active
wrestler holding the second-highest position to be dismissed. Otake -- the
former sekiwake Takatoriki, 42, whose real name is Tadashige Naya -- was denied
retirement money.
==Kyodo