Wakanoho, a top level Russian sumotori with bright prospects, was caught with circumstantial evidence that he was smoking marijuana in his sumo stable. Apparently, a lost wallet was turned in at a police box containing his ID and a "russian-made cigarette" containing marijuana. Later it was reported that a pipe was found among his belongings at his stable. Because he was under 20 years of age (in Japan still considered a minor) when the evidence was discovered, police did not publicly disclose his name during the investigation. However, the Japanese press reported the story after piecing together the evidence. The Japanese Sumo Association is expected to rule on whether he will be dismissed from the sport. Just another "black-eye" for the foreign rikishi...

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080...0na005000c.html

Normally I scoff at the idea of marijuana being a performance enhancing drug but I suppose a good bout of the munchies goes a long ways in sumo.



(I still think it's ridiculous to penalize someone for marijuana use if alcohol and cigarettes are ok)

I like your comment on the munchies...However, Japanese food is tasty enough already.

And I'm not trying to make any moral judgments on the use of marijuana, but everyone
in Japan knows that the rules regarding drug use are pretty strict. (they even booted the
Paul McCartney from Japan for possession). The thing is sumo wrestlers are not exactly
inconspicuous and Wakanoho was well on his way to making a very decent living from the sport.
His actions in this context are just plain stupid. He threw away potentially millions of dollars, plus the
many perks of being a top-ranked sumo wrestler for a few tokes. Not a smart career move...
And of course his actions just reflect badly on all the foreigners trying to make it in this sport.

I agree that this guy screwed up big-time (I know he was not the first sumotori to smoke weed, just the first to be busted by cops). I disagree that his actions reflect badly on all foreigners. They reflect badly on him, and nobody else, except his oyakata.

I agree on both counts. If you want to play you have to play by the rules.

How about the ""Russian-made cigarette" containing traces of marijuana"
being PLACED in his wallet prior to it being handed to the Police ??

If this Foreign Sumotori is a potential threat to any
other Sumo Stable, who knows what might happen............................

I'm not suggesting that this did occur, but you must take into
account that the wallet was not with its owner for some small
amount of time before it was given to the Police.

Unfortunately Japanese Police being what they are, there
is no chance of this young man being shown to be a victim
of a "Set up".
Circumstantial evidence of this nature would NEVER stand up
in a Western Court of Law.

PLEASE NOTE, I am NOT supporting this young fellow nor do I support the use of any illegal narcotic.
I am just doubting the veracity of the evidence that started the entire situation.

Point taken...
However, IMHO the sumo association was probably hoping this guy would succeed. He was the one strong sumotori in a weak beya that was on the verge of collapsing. Furthermore, sumo's popularity has been on the decline for some time. Scandals do not help the sport, even those involving foreigners. While the evidence is quite circumstantial, drugs are a big deal here, and any involvement with drugs by anyone in sumo is a very big deal.
Sumo in Japan is a world with a world with a traditional, conservative image (no matter what the reality might be). Just the suspicion of drugs is a bad thing. The "russian cigarette" thing could be a set-up but finding a pipe in among his personal belongings in the sumobeya is more serious. While this too could have been "placed" evidence, I sincerely doubt it. Having drug paraphernalia in the sumobeya implies that he could have smoked in the beya. That reflects a lack of guidance and supervision on the part of the oyakata. Finally, IMHO the Japanese police probably bend over backward to protect sumo and sumotori, even gaijin sumotori (not the case with other foreigners). No one wins here...

Quick update...Wakanoho became the first active sumotori to be expelled by the Sumo Association. He still faces either deportation or jail time for his actions.

Update #2 Roho, another sumo wrestler from Russia has been questioned about marijuana by the sumo association along with his brother and fellow Russian Hakurozan. It does not look good for either sumotori.

I don't know why they Criminalize the possession or usage of Marijuana so much. You don't ever hear "Two Pot Heads kill 7-11 Clerk for Twinkies". Will the Marijuana wars never end.

I hope they put him in Jail for Life and throw away the Key.

Train Hard, Stay Safe,
Good Luck

Listen...I'm all for legalizing it (and taxing it). Its no worse than tobacco or alcohol. Many of these laws are ridiculous worldwide. In the case of Japan, blame the USA and in particular McArthur, who imposed the Cannabis Control Act in 1948 as part of the constitutional reform.

Back to sumo, it has been reported that urine samples detecting marijuana were present in the two Russian sumotori in question.

Update: Rokuho and Hakurozan were given lifetime bans from sumo after a second, more extensive drug test confirmed the first. In addition, the head of the Sumo Association has resigned. Wakanoho, Rokuho, Hakurozan, Russian idiots, three of them...

All substances should be legal.

Update: Wakanoho is suing the Japanese Sumo Association for reinstatement.
Stay Tuned for more stupidity...