[sumo] More from Moti on the Russian situation

[Harold Shaver]

The 8th (tomorrow) is going to be a busy day. At 10 AM, it's the Prevention
Convention (the committee that wishes to better sumo so that rikishi will
not die needlessly again etc..) meeting. Then, after that , the rijikai, and
then, the hyogi-in kai. So what is the hyogi-in committee? It is the board
of trustees comprised of all active Oyakata, 3 active rikishi picked by the
rikishi-kai (wrestlers committee), and 2 tate-gyoji, a total of 112 people,
who nominate the governing body. There are strong voices from within this
committee (which isn't much different actually personnel-wise than the
toshiyori-kai, which is the committee comprised of all Oyakata who are not
management) calling for Kitanoumi's resignation. Clout? Oh yes. They need a
75% majority, and they can force him to retire.
As if that isn't enough, today, the 7th, some ichimons will be convening an
"ichimon-kai" to decide how they are going to vote/act when the various
committees convene on Monday.
Who does the catering for all of that, I wonder. 

Kitanoumi rijicho is still demanding another test at a different place. he
is now saying he would like it to be done by the police. If he punishes
Hakurozan, his own deshi, that would mean he is declaring that he doesn't
believe his innocence, something he does not want to do. "They are denying
everything since the start, and we have to believe them.They have been on
all sorts of medication lately and that could be one of the reasons for
their testing positive. We need to check them somewhere else", he said for
the hundredth time, naming the police as an alternative.
People around him are saying he has no intention of penalizing the suspects
at the emergency rijikai tomorrow. 
He is so angry he didn't even go to his daily sauna.

Someone from JADA (Japan anti doping association) is quoted as saying the
tests were done "hastily". "Usually, tests are agreed upon between the two
parties, the tester and the tested. This was not done in this case, and when
it's not done, there will be constant mudslinging and accusations..", said
the person.

Some articles of the recent goings on in English:
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/editorial/20080907TDY04311.htm
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080907TDY01302.htm
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20080906p2a00m0na013000c.html
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20080906p2a00m0na006000c.html

 

More as it's available.

Hal "Chisaiyama" Shaver