Gambling Sumo Wrestler Faces Expulsion
June 29th, 2010
Sumo wrestler Kotomitsuki is facing being expelled from the sport, and twelve others could be suspended after a betting scandal which exposed ties to organise crime was uncovered.
The scandal was discovered when a magazine from Japan reported that the high-ranking wrestler was heavily in debt from gambling and was paying money to gangsters to ensure that it was kept quiet.
After further investigations it was found that dozens of other sumo wrestlers and stablemasters were also involved in illegal sports betting.
Big name’s who have been sponsoring the events have withdrawn their funding and NHK, the country’s national broadcaster, is reconsidering its coverage of the grand summer tournament which is to be held next month.
Kotomitsuki and at least one well known stablemaster are now likely to be thrown out of the sport of sumo, while another 13 other wrestlers face being banned.
