Death of novice is latest sumo scandal

A FRESH scandal broke out in Japan’s time-honoured sport of sumo as a teenage novice died after being beaten with a beer bottle by his stable master.

Takashi Saito, who joined the sumo world in April, collapsed in the fighting ring while practising with another wrestler on June 26 in the central city of Inuyama.

The 17-year-old was pronounced dead at a hospital from heart failure, spawning speculation that his death was triggered by earlier violence in the stable.