Sumo Wrestlers, Association Grapple with Scandal Rag

Four sumo wrestlers, including Japan's top ranked Mongolian born Asashoryu, have filed a complaint against the Shukan Gendai.

The scandal rag published a series of articles that alleged Asashoryu paid off opponents to let him win bouts and the November basho. The yokozuna went 15-0 to claim is 19th title.

The Japan Sumo Association also filed a complaint against the publisher and the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office accepted them.

The JSA says after its investigation that it found no wrongdoing….thus the defamation suit against the publisher.

"We came to the conclusion that to restore honor of the association, chairman and wrestlers, we find it is necessary to seek not only redress in a civil suit, but also

criminal punishments," says the JSA.

The Shukan Gendai says it is standing by its story which was based on reliable sources.

The publishers would lose if they entered a sumo ring and the wrestlers would lose if they were given a pen and told to write a defense.

I guess the courts are the only place where it can be decided.

I don't know about Asashoryu…but I know that around about the 13th day or so of a tourney…the results of the individual bouts become awful predictable.