All random drug tests on wrestlers found to be negative
TOKYO - The results of the first-ever random drug tests conducted on sumo wrestlers last month were all found to be negative, the Japan Sumo Association said on Thursday.
(Source: KYODO)
Isenoumi, who heads a directive board to rid sumo of illegal drugs and other problematic elements which have recently tarnished the image of the ancient national sport, revealed that 103 wrestlers, stablemasters and other sumo officials who underwent urine tests on April 22 all returned negative results.
Isenoumi said that wrestlers, including grand champion Asashoryu, were checked at five stables for three types of illegal drugs, including marijuana and methamphetamines.
12-year-old Sakura Kawagoe wins singing contest held by Avex and USEN
(Japan Today)
Sakura Kawagoe, 12, took out the top prize in the final round of a singing contest held by record company Avex and cable broadcaster USEN in Shibuya this week. The competition – “a-motion ’09” – drew more than 8,000 applications nationwide.
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Tokyo water bureau boosts ad expenses to promote Olympic bid
(Japan Times)
The Tokyo metropolitan government’s waterworks bureau has set aside 1,870 million yen in advertising expenses for its fiscal 2009 budget to publicize not only water-related programs but also the Japanese capital’s campaign to host the 2016 Olympics, metropolitan government sources said Thursday.
Controversial sumo grand champion Asashoryu has triggered speculation he is close to quitting the ancient heavyweight sport with a series of cryptic comments to Japanese journalists.
