The discredited ex-chairman of the Japan Sumo Association, who stepped down in 2008 amid a drug-abuse scandal, is back in his job.
Former yokozuna -- grand champion -- Kitanoumi was elected by the board to return as chairman, tasked with increasing transparency in the embattled martial art.
Sumo's image has been seriously tarnished in recent years due in part to the death of a teenage apprentice after a violent training session.
Its credibility took a nose-dive in 2010 and 2011 as long-simmering allegations of bout-fixing bubbled over when evidence emerged as police probed another scandal involving wrestlers placing illegal baseball bets. (AFP)
The discredited ex-chairman of the Japan Sumo Association, who stepped down in 2008 amid a drug-abuse scandal, is back in his job.
Former yokozuna -- grand champion -- Kitanoumi was elected by the board to return as chairman, tasked with increasing transparency in the embattled martial art.
Sumo's image has been seriously tarnished in recent years due in part to the death of a teenage apprentice after a violent training session.
Its credibility took a nose-dive in 2010 and 2011 as long-simmering allegations of bout-fixing bubbled over when evidence emerged as police probed another scandal involving wrestlers placing illegal baseball bets. (AFP)