Post by : Shakul

Japanese sumo wrestling has been hit by another bullying scandal after retired grand champion Terunofuji admitted to physically abusing one of his wrestlers and reporting himself to the sport’s governing body.

Terunofuji, who retired from professional sumo in January last year and became a stablemaster five months later, told reporters that he had voluntarily informed the Japan Sumo Association about the incident. The 34-year-old said he and two wrestlers from his stable have already been questioned by officials.

“I have apologized to my wrestlers. The responsibility lies entirely with me,” Terunofuji said, adding that he is now awaiting disciplinary action from the association.The Mongolian-born former champion declined to comment further, saying that speaking more at this stage could complicate the investigation.

Sumo has long struggled with repeated scandals involving bullying, hazing, illegal gambling and ties to organized crime. One of the most notorious cases occurred in 2007, when a 17-year-old apprentice died following a hazing incident. His stablemaster was later sentenced to five years in prison for negligence resulting in death.

The latest case comes less than a year after former grand champion Hakuho, widely regarded as one of the greatest sumo wrestlers in history, left the sport after his stable was forcibly closed due to a bullying scandal involving his protégé Hokuseiho.Wrestlers from Hakuho’s dissolved stable were later transferred to the stable that Terunofuji eventually took over.

During his career, Terunofuji won 10 top-division tournaments and became the 73rd yokozuna in the centuries-old history of sumo before retiring due to injuries.

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