Wakanoho speaks at a press conference on Monday.

Fired Russian wrestler rocks sumo world with match-fixing claims

Tuesday 30th September, 04:49 AM JST

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Latest 15 of 92 Total Comments Show All

nibachan at 01:13 PM JST - 30th September

guys guys guys, please don't be emotionals. This is not the end of the world. Boxing (see Don King), football (see Italy),tennis (Davydenko and the cool Marat Safid, in every sport there are "invisible hands" who are more powerful that visi9ble hands. The good thing is that somebody catch them and they are not invisible anymore.... to much philosophy???
BurakuminDes at 01:54 PM JST - 30th September

The centuries old sumo world has been rocked, possibly damaged beyond repair. The only way I can see it being salvaged is if some mega rich entrepreneur steps in and completely shakes up the system, for what its worth, heres my ideas: -Try to make it appeal to the under 70s crowd,(no mean feat) possibly by adopting a new format (maybe international teams ie Russia vs America, Japan vs Mongolia and so on) - Streamline the outdated rankings system - Reatain the old stuff that appeals to the masses ie uniforms, salt throwing, and introuduce new stuff such as rock music, lighting systems, cheergirls. Chuck out the irrelevant and outdated rules such as those forcing the Yokozuna to retire rather than being demoted, prohibition of wrestlers to drive a car, play other sports, etc. - Pay a retainer annually to keep good athletes in the sport (Id suggest $2-3 million per year for the top wrestlers) - Allow "wildcard" athletes in the tournaments (Itd be great to see the likes of Bobb Sapp, Akebono and K1 fighters pitted against the current wrestlers for "one-off" appearances) - Allow wrestlers to choose non Japanese stage names (how many spectators from overseas can pronounce Asashoryu or Kotooshu correctly?) - Transparent drug testing, including off season, to bring sumo in line with WADA standards

Any other ideas to save this once great sport?
memyselfI at 02:56 PM JST - 30th September

This Russian guy doesn't have a chance of getting back in or staying in Japan for 3 more years. This case will get postponed until his visa expires. Remember this is a Japanese Traditional Sport, with Japanese Rules attached. He's lucky that he didn't get any jail time. If it was US, we would have been in Jail now. I do not remember, but I think he had possesion of a controlled and illegal substance. Cigaweed!!
memyselfI at 02:59 PM JST - 30th September

He's lucky for not being deported yet !!! If I smoked an illegal substance and my job confirmed there was drugs in my system. I would be sent to my home.
isthistheend at 04:08 PM JST - 30th September

Its true, and who cares about sumo but old people anyway. Nobody outside of these islands consider it worth anything. Let them continue to watch foreign Yokozuna. No homegrown will appear for at least another decade. By that time, will Japan still be Japan as we know it today? Of course it will. So sumo will be sumo, the same boring stuff it is today. And how about the casters who have to analyze the "waza" in a 3-second bout? Its all part of the do nothing all day long culture.
butterfly1 at 08:05 PM JST - 30th September

SOLDAVE- It was mostly about the match-fixing claim. And surprisingly supportive comments from Ito Terry. They didnt paint him as the devil by any means...
unscrejects at 10:39 PM JST - 30th September

Sumo personifies Japan - squeaky clean until the carpet is lifted to reveal the pile of dirt.
ora at 03:05 AM JST - 2nd October

Let's see: He gets canned for, well, being an idiot basically, THEN suddenly has shocking revelations he cannot bear to hide any longer. Yeah, he's got loads of credibility at this point.

The only question that remains is whether he will soon be doing his jumping henka at the bottom of a body of water in Russia or Japan.
nigelboy at 09:45 AM JST - 2nd October

Shukan Gendai is so desparate that they're going to pay this soon-to- expire visa pot smoking Russian lard a$$ to testify on behalf.

"Match Fixing"? Shocking!!!
Sarge at 07:23 AM JST - 3rd October

Now I read in my morning paper that the JSA is going to mess with the cushions, tying them together, to try to prevent fans from throwing them when there are upets or shock results. Idiots.
chibaman at 07:29 AM JST - 3rd October

Now I read in my morning paper that the JSA is going to mess with the cushions

Which one Sarge? The Japan Times? The Daily Yomiuri (English edition of course)?
Sarge at 08:26 AM JST - 3rd October

chibaman - DY.
YadotNapaj at 12:54 AM JST - 6th October

So far as the cushion-throwing goes they should announce at the beginning of the match and post signs that those throwing cushions could be subject to arrest.

Then arrest one or two in public, in front of everyone and on TV and I guarantee the cushion throwing will stop in a heartbeat.
butterfly1 at 09:56 PM JST - 6th October

how rediculous! one the the exciting moments is cushion throwing- would be a shame for it to be a no-no!
Sarge at 10:07 PM JST - 6th October

If the cushion is tossing is stopped, I guarantee ticket sales will drop. The JSA is crazy.