Volkswacht Bodensee - Retired great Hakuho says leaving sumo after bullying scandal

"It has been 25 years of being loved by sumo and loving sumo," the Mongolian-born Hakuho told reporters, confirming that he was "leaving the Japan Sumo Association".

He won a record 45 tournaments before retiring from competition in 2021 to coach wrestlers, but his stable was indefinitely shut in April last year.

Hakuho was handed an embarrassing demotion for failing to control the behaviour of Hokuseiho, who allegedly punched his lower-ranked stablemates and stole money from them.

Hakuho, 40, said Monday he "cried a lot" over the situation.

Japanese media reports said last week that the Japan Sumo Association, which declined to comment at the time, had accepted Hakuho's resignation.

Hakuho said Monday he was "moving on to a new dream" and that in the future "I intend to focus on projects to expand sumo to the world".

"Sumo was originally a shinto ritual to commemorate peace, national security and a good harvest," he said.

Born Munkhbat Davaajargal, Hakuho moved to Japan aged 15 and made his sumo debut in 2001.

He won his first top-division title in 2006 and went on to fight at the sport's highest rank of yokozuna more times than anyone in history.

A.Ammann--VB