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Reuters

Police on Monday referred former sumo grand champion Harumafuji to prosecutors on suspicion of bodily injury to a junior wrestler, Japanese media reported, the latest development in an incident that has tainted the image of the national sport.
Police in Tottori prefecture, southwest Japan, where the incident occurred in late October, recommended that Mongolian-born Harumafuji, 33, be charged, NHK public TV and Kyodo news agency reported.
Tottori police could not immediately comment on the reports.
The former “yokozuna”, or grand champion, retired and apologised last month for injuring junior wrestler Takanoiwa while drinking at a restaurant-bar with other wrestlers.
A report by the Japan Sumo Association’s crisis management committee found that Harumafuji, angered that Takanoiwa was checking his smart phone after being chastised for a bad attitude by fellow Mongolian “yokozuna” Hakuho, slapped and hit the younger wrestler with a remote control device.
Sumo scandal: grand champion Harumafuji faces inquest after claims of beer bottle assault on fellow wrestler
Harumafuji told a news conference announcing his retirement that he felt it was his duty as a senior wrestler to correct his juniors when they were rude, but conceded that he had gone too far.
Takanoiwa did not take part in the latest tournament due to his injuries, which the sumo association had previously said included a fractured skull and concussion.
The incident has highlighted sumo’s struggle to reform harsh conditions that can breed violence in its closed, hierarchical world, although some wrestlers say there have been improvements in the decade since a trainee was beaten to death.
Japan’s sumo panel questions grand champion Harumafuji about bar brawl assault
Harumafuj’s lawyers later on Monday released a statement on behalf of the former grand champion, offering “heartfelt apologies to Takanoiwa and others,” Kyodo said, without identifying the lawyers by name.
The lawyers said they would seek a meeting with Takanoiwa and his “stablemaster”, or coach, Takanohana, to apologise and discuss compensation, Kyodo added.


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Japanese police refer former champion Harumafuji to prosecutors over junior wrestler assault

Sumo grand champion Harumafuji (C) leaves a press conference where he announced his retirement and apologised for the incident in which he injured a young wrestler. Photo: Kyodo

Undated photo shows former sumo grand champion Harumafuji, who was referred to prosecutors by police in Tottori, western Japan, on Dec. 11, 2017, for his assault of a lower-ranked wrestler in October. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Sumo grand champion Harumafuji bows in apology during a press conference in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, on Nov. 29, 2017, where he announced his retirement over an assault in late October on fellow Mongolian wrestler Takanoiwa. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Japan’s sumo panel questions grand champion Harumafuji about bar brawl assault

Sumo grand champion Harumafuji is escorted by police at Tokyo's Haneda airport. He is being investigated for allegedly assaulting fellow wrestler Takanoiwa in late October. Photo: Kyodo

Sumo wrestler Takanoiwa, seen in this photo taken on Jan. 22, 2017, suffered serious injuries at the hands of grand champion Harumafuji in a drunken brawl in Tottori, western Japan, in October 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Adiya Luvsan, whose younger brother and sumo wrestler Takanoiwa was assaulted by sumo grand champion Harumafuji in October 2017, has an interview in Ulan Bator on Nov. 16, 2017. He voiced anger at Harumafuji, also from Mongolia. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Mongolian-born grand sumo champion Yokozuna Harumafuji (C) is escorted by police officers upon his arrival at Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo November 16, 2017. Harumafuji was being questioned by police after media reports he assaulted a fellow wrestler, local media reported on Friday. Picture taken November 16, 2017. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. JAPAN OUT.

File photo taken in September 2016 shows grand champion Harumafuji (L) and Takanoiwa facing off on the ring during a bout at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. The yokozuna was revealed to have left Takanoiwa with serious injuries in a drunken brawl in late October 2017. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Sumo scandal: grand champion Harumafuji faces inquest after claims of beer bottle assault on fellow wrestler

Sumo grand champion Harumafuji looks at the ground as he leaves after visiting wrestler Takanoiwa’s stable master’s quarters in Tagawa, southwestern Japan, to offer an apology. Photo: AP

Mongolian sumo grand champion Harumafuji speaks to journalists after morning training for the ongoing Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in Dazaifu, southwestern Japan, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. Japanese sumo officials are investigating allegations that Harumafuji hit his fellow Mongolian wrestler Takanoiwa in the head with a beer bottle at a party in October, fracturing his skull base and causing other injuries. (Kyodo News via AP)

Grand champion Harumafuji (facing camera) loses to rank-and-filer Takakeisho on the second day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka on Nov. 13, 2017. The Japan Sumo Association held an emergency meeting the next day, following allegations that Harumafuji assaulted fellow Mongolian wrestler Takanoiwa in late October outside the ring. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Police in Tottori prefecture, southwest Japan, where the incident occurred in late October, recommend the Mongolian-born wrestler be charged


Japanese police refer former champion Harumafuji to prosecutors over junior wrestler assault

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Police in Tottori prefecture, southwest Japan, where the incident occurred in late October, recommend the Mongolian-born wrestler be charged

Police in Tottori prefecture, southwest Japan, where the incident occurred in late October, recommend the Mongolian-born wrestler be charged