Sumo wrestlers clean after random doping tests

The Japan Sumo Association said Thursday that random doping tests given to wrestlers last month were all found to be negative.

The JSA started conducting random tests in April after second-division wrestler Wakakirin was arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana in January. Wakakirin was the first Japanese wrestler to be arrested in a marijuana case and the latest to be thrown out of the sumo world.

A total of 103 wrestlers, coaches and other sumo officials who underwent urine tests on April 22 all returned negative results, the JSA said. The wrestlers, including grand champion Asashoryu, were checked for three types of illegal drugs, including marijuana and methamphetamines.

New anti-doping rules were set by the JSA in late February so that all of the association's members could be tested without warning.

Some critics, however, say the tests were not strict enough as the heads of the various stables were warned two days in advance before wrestlers were summoned to Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan to be checked.