Integrity Score 2222
No Records Found
No Records Found
Japan's top-ranked sumo wrestler Hakuho Sho has tested positive for coronavirus.
The Mongolian-born grand champion took a Covid-19 test after losing his sense of smell, the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) said.
Hakuho - the longest-serving yokozuna or top-ranked wrestler in Japan - had been preparing for the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, due to start in Tokyo on Sunday.
He will now seek the advice of specialists while the other wrestlers in his stable will also be tested, JSA said.
The news comes as Japan considers declaring a state of emergency in and around Tokyo, where virus cases have surged.
It has imposed relatively relaxed restrictions so far, with a more contained outbreak than some countries.
Activities like sumo wrestling have continued espite the pandemic, but cases have emerged in the sport too. In May, a 28-year-old Japanese sumo wrestler died from organ failure caused by the virus.