ID :
165353
Wed, 03/02/2011 - 14:22
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https://www.oananews.org//node/165353
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Sumo: Sumo elder backs Takenawa, denies report of more match fixing
TOKYO, March 2 Kyodo - A stable master, whose protege Takenawa was reported in the media to have admitted that some 40 wrestlers have been involved in match fixing in the past, denied the allegation on Wednesday.
The story appeared on the front page of Wednesday's early edition of the Mainichi Shimbun, alleging that sumo elder Takenawa told a special investigative panel that to his knowledge about 40 wrestlers have been involved in rigging bouts -- substantially more than the 14 names that initially surfaced in connection with an alleged mobile phone bout-rigging scheme.
But the special panel later said that none of its members have heard from Takenawa that 40 wrestlers were involved in match fixing.
''He (Takenawa) told me, 'They wrote that even though I never said anything like it. I also never said anything like that to anyone else,' he told me,'' said sumo elder Kasugano.
Takenawa himself was silent on the matter when questioned by reporters after a morning training session at the Kasugano stable in Tokyo's Sumida Ward.
Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hanaregoma, meanwhile, stopped short of a full denial, saying everything has been left up to the investigative panel.
''I'd love to know where they got those figures from. Everything has been entrusted to the special investigative panel and I haven' heard anything from them,'' he said.
In a potential bombshell, the Mainichi Shimbun said in the article that Takenawa mentioned the name of an active wrestler from sumo's ''sanyaku,'' or the three ranks below grand champion, whom he claims took part in rigging bouts, to the investigative panel.
A sumo source has said that Takenawa has hinted to the special panel that the 14 who have been implicated only hits the tip of the iceberg and that many more are involved.
Revelations came to light in the beginning of February that Takenawa exchanged text messages with second-tier division wrestlers Chiyohakuho and Kiyoseumi, with lower-ranking wrestler Enatsukasa acting as the go-between in the match-fixing schemes.
The bout rigging took place at last year's spring meet in March and at the summer tourney later in May. Three of the four, including Takenawa, have admitted to match fixing.
The story appeared on the front page of Wednesday's early edition of the Mainichi Shimbun, alleging that sumo elder Takenawa told a special investigative panel that to his knowledge about 40 wrestlers have been involved in rigging bouts -- substantially more than the 14 names that initially surfaced in connection with an alleged mobile phone bout-rigging scheme.
But the special panel later said that none of its members have heard from Takenawa that 40 wrestlers were involved in match fixing.
''He (Takenawa) told me, 'They wrote that even though I never said anything like it. I also never said anything like that to anyone else,' he told me,'' said sumo elder Kasugano.
Takenawa himself was silent on the matter when questioned by reporters after a morning training session at the Kasugano stable in Tokyo's Sumida Ward.
Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hanaregoma, meanwhile, stopped short of a full denial, saying everything has been left up to the investigative panel.
''I'd love to know where they got those figures from. Everything has been entrusted to the special investigative panel and I haven' heard anything from them,'' he said.
In a potential bombshell, the Mainichi Shimbun said in the article that Takenawa mentioned the name of an active wrestler from sumo's ''sanyaku,'' or the three ranks below grand champion, whom he claims took part in rigging bouts, to the investigative panel.
A sumo source has said that Takenawa has hinted to the special panel that the 14 who have been implicated only hits the tip of the iceberg and that many more are involved.
Revelations came to light in the beginning of February that Takenawa exchanged text messages with second-tier division wrestlers Chiyohakuho and Kiyoseumi, with lower-ranking wrestler Enatsukasa acting as the go-between in the match-fixing schemes.
The bout rigging took place at last year's spring meet in March and at the summer tourney later in May. Three of the four, including Takenawa, have admitted to match fixing.
