[sumo] JSA undecided on whether to allow Asashoryu to travel back to Mongolia

[Patrick Bal]

Kyodo News
Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu, who has been diagnosed with a mild case
of depression after being suspended from the next two grand sumo
tournaments, is still in limbo as to whether he will be granted permission
to travel back to his homeland to avoid any further emotional breakdown.

Stable master Takasago, who met with Asashoryu for the first time since he
received the punishment last Wednesday, suggested Monday that the Japan Sumo
Association is carefully considering the yokozuna's mental condition.

 
"He appeared totally wiped out," Takasago said after holding a 20-minute
meeting with Asashoryu at the grand champion's Tokyo home. "He was just
staring off into space and would mainly just nod (whenever I would ask him
questions) without saying much."


"We can't give a quick response to that matter. We have to wait a bit longer
and continue to observe the situation," he said. "I told him, 'You have to
fight a little more. I'll be fighting for you too." '

Takasago said further that the JSA was bringing in another psychiatrist to
examine Asashoryu and offer a second opinion, at the recommendation of its
own medical committee.

"If he has the same symptoms, we will discuss this with JSA Chairman
Kitanoumi."

Takasago also said while the JSA is considering allowing Asashoryu to return
to Mongolia, it will also propose having the yokozuna's parents and family
visit him in Japan.

Asashoryu was suspended from the Kyushu meet in September and the autumn
meet in November after it was discovered that he played in a charity soccer
match in Mongolia, despite having cited injuries that allowed him to sit out
the ongoing regional summer tour.

He has also been restricted to his house until the final day of the autumn
meet on Nov. 25 and is not permitted to go out and socialize as part of the
punitive measure.