Retired sumo great to quit sport over abuse allegations – report
Hakuho, who retired in 2021, saw his wrestling stable closed after a protege was accused of bullying
Retired sumo great Hakuho will quit the ancient Japanese sport following a row over the forced closure of his wrestling stable for physical abuse, reports said on Monday.
The Mongolian-born Hakuho won a record 45 tournaments before retiring in 2021 to coach wrestlers, but his stable was indefinitely closed in April last year when one of his proteges was accused of bullying.
Hakuho was also handed an embarrassing demotion for failing to control the behaviour of Hokuseiho, who allegedly punched his lower-ranked stablemates and stole money from them.
The future of Hakuho’s stable is still unclear more than a year later, leading the 40-year-old to tender his resignation to the Japan Sumo Association, reports said.
The reports said his resignation was accepted at an extraordinary board meeting in Tokyo.
Hakuho, who is in Mongolia according to posts he has made on social media, is expected to hold a news conference next week.