Ban for Sumo Champion Who Skipped Tour

Asashoryu, the enfant terrible of sumo wrestling, has been banned from the next two tournaments after he was filmed playing football in his native Mongolia while supposedly recovering from injuries.

In an unprecedented show of anger towards a reigning grand champion, the Japanese Sumo Association told Asashoryu yesterday that he would not be allowed to take part in the September and November tournaments and would receive a 30% pay cut for four months.

Most sumo fans will miss the 26-year-old, who is considered one of the finest wrestlers in the sport's history. Despite his lack of height and relatively light 148kg (more than 23 stone) weight, he has won 19 tournaments since becoming yokozuna, or grand champion, in 2003, including a record seven in a row.

After sweeping to another title in Nagoya last month, Asashoryu was given permission to miss an 18-day regional tour, starting tomorrow, which includes exhibition bouts and public relations work. His stable master, Takasago, submitted a doctor's certificate explaining that his prize wrestler was suffering from a damaged ligament in his left elbow and a stress fracture in his lower back.

But at the weekend a Japanese TV network showed the wrestler sprinting around the pitch during a charity football match in Mongolia. He showed no sign of discomfort as he skipped tackles, made diving headers and scored off a pass.

On his return to Tokyo on Monday, Asashoryu went to the sumo association's headquarters to apologize, and told officials that he would receive treatment for his injuries later that day.