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Russian sumo wrestlers fail second drug test

Russian sumo wrestler Wakanoho was arrested for possession of Marijuana recently, and the Japan Sumo Association responded by banning him for life. They also conducted random drug tests for 69 of their wreslters. The only two wrestlers who failed the test were Roho and Hakurozan, fellow Russians who had been friends of Wakanoho. Wakanoho has reportedly told police that his friends never smoked with him.

Roho and Hakurozan denied having ever seen or used marijuana and demanded that their urine samples be re-tested. The second test returned another positive result for marijuana, so they’re now demanding more tests.

The Japan Sumo Association is giving in to their demand and apparently will seek another test:

Despite the results of the latest tests, carried out by Mitsubishi Chemical Medience Corp., the only institution in Japan certified to conduct antidoping tests by the World Anti-Doping Agency, JSA Chairman Kitanoumi said more tests should be conducted because Roho and Hakurozan have categorically denied the charges.

The samples “may contain elements of various sedatives, so I want the samples to be tested again elsewhere,” Kitanoumi told reporters.

Kitanoumi, a former yokozuna (grand champion), heads the stable to which Hakurozan belongs.

A Yomiuri editorial has accused Kitanoumi of “trying to put off dealing with the problem,” and called on the JSA to take swift action against the two sumo wrestlers. To the Yomiuri, the second drug test is evidence enough that they are not telling the truth and “their lack of respect for what it means to be a sumo wrestler is simply appalling.”

22 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - September 7, 2008 at 7:04 pm

Categories: Foreigners in Japan Tags: sumo

Chris

I guess doping of any kind is a big deal in any sport, but marijuana? Growing up mainly in the Bay Area, Califonria, I find this kind of ridiculous to be honest. Its pot, and although I could be wrong I doubt any athlete in America would be severely punished for doing it. Its not like steroids after all.

As an aside to residents of Japan, is smoking pot a big deal generally in Japan?

Jarvik7

@1:
Olympians have been stripped of their medals for smoking weed.

http://www.japanprobe.com James

is smoking pot a big deal generally in Japan?

If you’re a foreigner, you might be able to get away with a mere deportation. If you’re unlucky, you’ll do prison time and then be deported.
http://www.feitclub.com feitclub

Here’s where I get lost: a positive test for marijuana is not proof that you have used the drug. It’s entirely possible to test positive from second-hand exposure. Combine that with the lack of (thus-far reported) actual evidence at their homes, and I don’t see what they hope to accomplish through this investigation.

Wakanoho was clearly in possession of marijuana. I don’t support the draconian laws surrounding pot, but the fact that he broke the law in this fashion led to his dismissal. These two have yet to break the law, unless Japan actually equates a drug test with possession, but I don’t see how that’s possible.

Level3

Absolutely right. The big difference between this and other sports doping/drugs/steroids scandals is that in those cases, there is no way to accidentally get exposed to steroids or coke or whatever. If they’re in you, you put them there.

Very possible that anyone who hangs out in bars in Roppongi or other seedy areas could test positive for marijuana, just from second-hand smoke, and might not even know it.

And now we learn 69 rikishi were subject to “random drug tests” which just happened to include the 2 Russians? Yeah, random. Sure. And the other 67 were probably 16 year-old apprentices because they are least likely to have ever been exposed to dope.

Wanna bet there were 80 tests but 11 more of those were positive and thus thrown out as “mistakes” because those positive results were for Japanese rikishi?

Crom

Sure, I’ll take you up on your bet.
Let me know when you get some facts to back up your conjecture.

tentaro

Umm drugs are just as illegal in Japan as they are in this country even worse since it’s the damn foreigners who are the biggest problem with smuggling them into the country. I say deport the bastards back to where they belong. Pot maybe the least hurtful drug (in the short term anyway) but it is still an illegal substance. You do something illegal you should be punished for it end of story.

The Overthinker

“You do something illegal you should be punished for it end of story.”

And that’s why Nelson Mandela spent so long in prison….
Dimitrov

Do you suggest that without foreigners in Japan, there will be no drugs?
Level3

tentaro (first please where is “this country”? This is an international site about Japan, so we don’t know what the hell country you’re talking about)

I’m sure you meant to add “IF they’re found guilty in a court of law, rather than the court of biased public opinion and media hype”

Until there is actual evidence they possessed and/or smoked it, I continue to find this “news story” a disturbing indication of the priorities of the Japanese media and the willingness of the Japanese police to just give up tons of info to the media if the suspect is gaijin.

We’re probably nearing the point where these pot stories are outnumbering the case last year when the stable master KILLED one of his rikishi by smashing his skull. But that’s not as important as fat guys maybe smoking dope.

Kevin

I’m sure you meant to add “IF they’re found guilty in a court of law, rather than the court of biased public opinion and media hype”

You really must not understand what’s currently happening to sumo if you believe this to be true. Asashoryu was suspended for faking an injury. Do you honestly believe that someone testing positive for drugs, whether they’re guilty or not, is going to get a slap on the wrist.

Sumo is getting hammered by the court of public opinion. The sport is losing viewers and very few children are taking up the sport, so ANY bad publicity and there is going to be hell to pay. The stable master is going to hear criticism the loudest, but these Russians are toast. There might not be evidence to send them to prison, but there’s no way they’ll ever wrestle again.

The King Elvis

How about our government, how about police who allow, permit to happen this things??
Foreigners, yes, they are in the front but in the back is japanese police or government.
We stay behind lies..we are japanese, we don’t need underground money, black market, crime, drugs. Here is everything perfect but the damn foreigners took our virginity.

sod

as the saying goes ‘if you cant do the time don’t do the crime!’
Dakk

B-b-but guys, I THOUGHT GAIJIN WOULD NEVER COMMIT CRIMES?
404error

he looks f*in smashed on the picture xDD
http://www.jappleng.com Colin

Oh my god i hate that like half of all crime is commited by gaijin. It makes me feel like when i go there people are going to assume I’m more likely to commit crimes. Gah

ponta

very strange inference from the news.
I suggest you not to come to Japan if you are so much worried and your logical skill is like that.

Kaito

well said.

TheManiac

Look. There is 1 test that they can’t beat. It’s called a lie detector test. Did u smoke? Beep. Your Lying. Finished.
That’s what some bodybuilding federations are starting now since some steriods are undectable.

http://www.feitclub.com feitclub

I think polygraph tests are even less reliable than drug tests, actually.

Pingback: Sumo chairman resigns, Roho & Hakurozan banned for life | Japan Probe
http://www.essential-japan-guide.com Ichiro

Unfortunately another black eye on the sport of sumo.

Russian sumo wrestlers fail second drug test

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