Kitanoumi resigns, the brothers are out

[Kintamayama 44,350]

Kitanoumi has resigned as rijicho, and will be replaced by Musashigawa Oyakata. Hakurozan and Rohou are out of sumo. This is the first time a rijicho takes responsibility and resigns while in office.

Earlier, the two rikishi faced the Prevention committee, which stated that the urine tests results were so overwhelming there was no doubt about their guilt and recommended they be dismissed.

The questions are-

Is Kitanoumi resigning from the Kyokai altogether, or just from the position of riji?

What about Ootake Oyakata? No penalties?

Will the Russian brothers seek help from the Russian embassy as promised?

Will a civil suit be brought against the Kyokai as promised?

Will the brothers be arrested?

Were the Russians kicked out mainly because of their belligerent response to the accusations? If they would have quietly denied all charges without threatening everyone and their sister, would they have been forgiven?

Now that they're gone, will the brothers tell stories of the "dark side" of Sumo?

What will become of Wakanohou? (answer to this in the Wakanohou thread-some breaking news..)

Edited September 8, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 44,350]

Musashigawa was elected unanimously by the 9 other riji. No one was absent from the meeting. Takatouriki was demoted from iin to a regular toshiyori. Kitanoumi will remain a regular riji. Aki basho will be held with the new rijicho taking over.

Edited September 8, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 44,350]

The brothers arriving at the Prevention committee meeting;

Kitanoumi - going down?:

Edited September 8, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 44,350]

Questions at the press conference:

K:I have to come to terms with the fact that my deshi Hakurozan was found guilty of using drugs. It is inexcusable that I have caused so much trouble to the fans .

Q: What are your feelings at the moment?

K: I should always pay close attention to the rikishi, that's all..

Q:About your responsibility?

K: If the results are positive, then it's illegal. I was thinking of my responsibility.

Q: About the resignation..

K; At the beginning, they were denying all the accusations. I believed them. When the test results were confirmed positive, it's natural that as his teacher I had to take responsibility for his actions. When I had to react, I reacted..

Old and new (and small..):

Edited September 8, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Fay 1,677]

I must say I feel sorry for Kitanoumi Oyakata. He did what you expect from your boss, stay at your side when you are in deep trouble and believe you. Ok, perhaps he hoped that the tests turned out to be less reliable too. Maybe he could have saved his head by firing Hakurozan and Roho immediately (don't know if he would have had the power to do so).

[Skotkotaikai 2]

He looks really ruined on those pics :(

Damn those stupid brothers. They did things the worst way. But I think no matter what his reaction was, Kitanoumi was doomed. The crowd wanted blood this time and they got it. Let us hope this isn't the start of an avalanche. It will be best for sumo if things start to calm down.

Are the tests reliable enough to allow the police to arrest the brothers?

Imo they won't be arrested or if arrested it won't be for long.

Guess they will return to Russia in disgrace. But do the brothers care? I doubt it. They were at the end of their carreers, they have earned enough money while in sumo.

Edited September 8, 2008 by Skotkotaikai

[Hashira 0]

They were at the end of their carreers

Huh (Bearded disguise...)

there was some conversation earlier about their visas, but I don't think we got anything concrete about whether the NSK is their sponsor, and if they will have to leave Japan definitely? Now that it appears even Wakanoho won't be charged, it would be interesting to see the three of them hanging around, causing trouble (what if they show up at the Kokugikan on the first day of the basho- as spectators- on what grounds could they be turned away?)

I am 99% sure that they smoked, but wish the Kyokai had taken a new sample and done a more open test on it before kicking them out, providing such a test is possible after time has passed

[Kintamayama 44,350]

there was some conversation earlier about their visas, but I don't think we got anything concrete about whether the NSK is their sponsor, and if they will have to leave Japan definitely? Now that it appears even Wakanoho won't be charged, it would be interesting to see the three of them hanging around, causing trouble (what if they show up at the Kokugikan on the first day of the basho- as spectators- on what grounds could they be turned away?)

I am 99% sure that they smoked, but wish the Kyokai had taken a new sample and done a more open test on it before kicking them out, providing such a test is possible after time has passed

My farm with all the steaks in it that the three will be sent on the same plane back home. As for other tests, they REFUSED to do them, so that's that, ne..

[Skotkotaikai 2]

They were at the end of their carreers

Huh (In a state of confusion...)

Hakurozan's legs were crippled. I believe he was heading for makushita. Despite his age of 26 I think he wouldn't last long. Roho was 28. Well he could have stayed for several years, but not for too long. Nvm that's just my opinion.

[Kintamayama 44,350]

Oonishi the dope man held a press conference, and said categorically that going by the test results (really high..), the brothers smoked for sure, no second hand smoke, no painkillers-they were smoking. He was adamant and there was no place for confusion.

They were smoking:

Edited September 8, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

[Skotkotaikai 2]

Kitanoumi, wasn't it obvious he was using it :( You had to look closer :D

Edited September 8, 2008 by Skotkotaikai

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

A well-balanced round-up:

http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=6082

[Kintamayama 44,350]

A well-balanced round-up:

http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=6082

And an excellent, well thought out, intelligent talkback:

They are all three from North Ossetia, right? The Russian invasion of Georgia was started over the Ossetian regions and their assertions of independence. The Japanese government opposes the Russian invasion of Georgia. Inspired by Wakanoho

[Skotkotaikai 2]

A well-balanced round-up:

http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=6082

And an excellent, well thought out, intelligent talkback:

They are all three from North Ossetia, right? The Russian invasion of Georgia was started over the Ossetian regions and their assertions of independence. The Japanese government opposes the Russian invasion of Georgia. Inspired by Wakanoho’s arrest on drug charges, the Japanese foreign ministry instructed the Sumo Association to see to it that the remaining Ossetians were also found to be using dope in order to get rid of them as an act of protest aimed at the Russians. The old Sending a Message trick.

This is so obviously.

I thought of it too but I just refuse to believe the US & friends propaganda machine would go that far. I think in this particular case the Ossetians were guilty of using marijuana.

Edited September 8, 2008 by Manekineko
politics

[Hashira 0]

I am 99% sure that they smoked, but wish the Kyokai had taken a new sample and done a more open test on it before kicking them out, providing such a test is possible after time has passed

My farm with all the steaks in it that the three will be sent on the same plane back home. As for other tests, they REFUSED to do them, so that's that, ne..

i thought it was that they didn't want the B sample tested at the same place, but were in favour of doing new tests at a different lab?

[Asashosakari 18,786]

i thought it was that they didn't want the B sample tested at the same place, but were in favour of doing new tests at a different lab?

I don't think that's how it works. You can either have your B sample tested at the same lab as the A sample, or you forego your chance to have the B sample exonerate you. I mean, they could still have had it tested somewhere else, I guess, but it wouldn't change the "official" finding based on the A sample at that point.

My impression was that the whole "yes, but somewhere else" song and dance was merely intended as a delay tactic, and they didn't realize they were actually giving up their rights that way.

Edit: Got my tenses mixed up...

Edited September 8, 2008 by Asashosakari

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Out on the interwebs, some japan-based folk (ok, one that I've seen so far) have claimed to have seen the bros smoking up. In the realm of plain old hearsay, but supposing for a moment it's true, where there's one witness, there could be others. I wonder if it would be a good idea for the boys to go through with the threats made in the course of posturing, and bring the embassy and some law-talking guys into it...

[Hashira 0]

i thought it was that they didn't want the B sample tested at the same place, but were in favour of doing new tests at a different lab?

I don't think that's how it works. You can either have your B sample tested at the same lab as the A sample, or you forego your chance to have the B sample exonerate you. I mean, they could still have had it tested somewhere else, I guess, but it wouldn't change the "official" finding based on the A sample at that point.

My impression was that the whole "yes, but somewhere else" song and dance was merely intended as a delay tactic, and they didn't realize they were actually giving up their rights that way.

that's my impression as well, but it seems strange that they would not understand the procedure at this point in proceedings

are you referring to the WADA process in general or the process applied by the NSK?

[Asashosakari 18,786]

that's my impression as well, but it seems strange that they would not understand the procedure at this point in proceedings

are you referring to the WADA process in general or the process applied by the NSK?

WADA. I've heard of athletes questioning the results after the B sample test and insisting on further tests as part of their arbitration hearings (not sure if they actually got them), but never in between A and B, so I'm assuming that's just not possible under their framework.

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Musashigawa was elected unanimously by the 9 other riji. No one was absent from the meeting. Takatouriki was demoted from iin to a regular toshiyori. Kitanoumi will remain a regular riji. Aki basho will be held with the new rijicho taking over.

Nitpicking: 9 riji total, not 9 other. Further musical chairs: Kitanoumi takes over as Haru Basho manager from previously-deposed Magaki, Isenoumi will take over Musashigawa's position as second-in-command in the Kyokai's executive while also maintaining his post as head of the Guidance department for now.

Edited September 8, 2008 by Asashosakari

[Kotoku 0]

Well the results were pretty obvious from the start. There has been non-stop mismanagement under Kitanoumi, but everyone was scared witless by him. now that he is gone, maybe -- just maybe --they can get some semblance of order in the nuthouse they call the kyokai.

It sorta puts a whole new perspective on Asa wanting to go home and hang with his wife and kids, and getting his bi-yearly butt kicking from the bozos at the top. You cannot smoke dope in Japan, period. It's not as bad as in Singapore, but the only crime more serious for a gaijin to commit is riding a bicyle at night with the headlamp off. They are tough on that too...

Kintamayama, yer a friggin' genius. -L- :- )

[Kintamayama 44,350]

Musashigawa was elected unanimously by the 9 other riji. No one was absent from the meeting. Takatouriki was demoted from iin to a regular toshiyori. Kitanoumi will remain a regular riji. Aki basho will be held with the new rijicho taking over.

Nitpicking: 9 riji total, not 9 other.

I assumed he voted for himself and Kitanoumi voted for him too, so that makes 9. I deny I said 9! You promised me cups with numbers, but the cups were named! I never even saw anyone counting before. I swear!! I was never in a room with anyone counting!!

So much easier to lie..

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Oonishi the dope man held a press conference, and said categorically that going by the test results (really high..), the brothers smoked for sure, no second hand smoke, no painkillers-they were smoking. He was adamant and there was no place for confusion.

The cold, hard numbers: The WADA guidelines say that it's doping if the concentration exceeds 15 nanograms of THC/cannabis metabolites per cubic centimetre (or millilitre, whichever you prefer) in the urine sample. According to Onishi, Roho tested at approximately 5 times the limit, and Hakurozan even at 10 times.

Edit: FWIW, from http://www.usantidoping.org/files/active/a...08%20guide.pdf:

If I am around a person who is smoking will I have a positive test? - The test for marijuana has a threshold of 15 ng/mL for the metabolite. A number of studies have been completed to determine if passive inhalation will produce an adverse analytical finding. Even in studies where the marijuana smoke was so thick the participants had to wear goggles to protect their eyes the testing threshold prevented adverse analytical findings. No inadvertant exposure to marijuana smoke by passive inhalation is going to cause the test result to exceed the threshold.

Edited September 8, 2008 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari 18,786]

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