Wakanohō Toshinori

Sumo wrestler infobox

wrestlername = 若ノ鵬 寿則 Wakanohō Toshinori


birthname = Soslan Aleksandrovich Gagloev
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1988|7|8
placeofbirth = Russia
height = height|meters=1.95
weight = convert|156|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on
heya = Magaki
rank =
record = 131-81-0
debut = March 2005
highestrank = Maegashira 1 (July, 2008)
retireddate = August, 2008
yushos = 1 (Jonidan)
prizes =
goldstars =
update = August 2008

Wakanohō Toshinori (born July 8, 1988 as Soslan Aleksandrovich Gagloev in Alagir, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania in the Russian Federation) is a former sumo wrestler. His highest rank was "maegashira" 1. He became the first active wrestler to be expelled from sumo, after being arrested for possession of cannabis in August 2008.

Career

He was a freestyle wrestler in Russia, but as his weight continued to increase past the convert|120|kg|lb|abbr=on|lk=on upper limit for competitions, he switched to sumo.cite web|author=Buckton, Mark|title=Rikishi Interview:Wakanoho Toshinori|publisher=Sumo Fan Magazine|url=http://www.sumofanmag.com/content/Issue_10/Interview.htm|date=December 2006|accessdate=2008-04-10] Having known fellow Russian sumo wrestler Rohō for many years, when he first arrived in Japan he stayed at Rohō's training stable, Ōtake-beya, for about six months to learn the basics. Due to the restrictions on foreigners, he could not join that stable, but its stablemaster Taihō had connections to the former Wakanohana Kanji II, and he joined Magaki stable instead. His "shikona" of Wakanohō was formed as a combination of Wakanohana II and Taihō's names.

Wakanohō made his professional debut in March 2005. He moved through the lower divisions quickly, winning the championship in the "jonidan" division in May 2005 with a perfect 7-0 record. It took him a year to climb up the third "makushita" division and in November 2006 a 4-3 record at "Makushita" 1 East earned him promotion to the second "juryo" division and elite "sekitori" status. At 18 years and five months, he was the youngest foreign born wrestler to do so. [cite web|title=Russian sumo caught with marijuana|publsisher=The Australian|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24219966-2703,00.html|date=2008-08-22|accessdate=2008-08-23] In his "juryo" debut he managed only five wins against ten losses, his first ever "make-koshi" or losing score and was demoted. However, he returned to the second division in May 2007 and three solid performances of 10-5, 8-7 and 10-5 earned him promotion to the top "makuuchi" division in November 2007. He was the sixth youngest wrestler to reach "makuuchi" in the modern era. [cite web|author=Buckton, Mark|title=Game over for Kaio and Chiyotaikai?|publisher=Japan Times|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20071106mb.html|date=2007-11-06|accessdate=2008-04-10] He came through with nine wins against six losses in his top division debut, and a 10-5 mark in January 2008 saw him move into the upper "maegashira" ranks for the March 2008 tournament. Fighting all the top ranked wrestlers for the first time, he defeated "ozeki" Kaiō and secured his "kachi-koshi" or winning record on the final day.

During the May 2008 tournament he was reprimanded by the Japan Sumo Association after he smashed a door in the dressing room following a defeat to Ama by the technique of "utchari." [cite web|author=|title=Sumo dish smasher warned after tantrum|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080519/od_nm/sumo_tantrum_dc|publisher=Yahoo News|date=2008-05-19|accessdate=2008-05-20] However he once again secured his majority of wins on the final day, his fourth straight "kachi-koshi" in the top division. However, in the July 2008 tournament, fighting from what was to be his highest rank of "maegashira" 1 he lost his first eight bouts and finished on 4-11.

Wakanohō was known for occasionally jumping straight up into the air at the "tachi-ai" or initial charge, an highly unorthodox move which some commentators put down to youthful bravado. He was also criticised for relying too much on side-steps and slap-downs. [cite web|author=Buckton, Mark|title=Hatsu Basho 2008- the changing of the guard|publisher=Japan Times|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20080129mb.html|date=2008-01-29|accessdate=2008-04-10]

Arrest and dismissal

On 18 August 2008, Wakanohō was arrested for possession of cannabis. A wallet belonging to Wakanohō was found on 24 June and handed in to police. It contained a Russian made cigarette mixed with what appeared to be cannabis, and the wrestler's identification. Wakanohō said he bought 2 bags of marijuana, a rolled joint, a pipe and 2 Russian cigarettes from a Russian and a black man for 20,000 yen in a club in Roppongi. Police have also searched his apartment and private quarters at Magaki stable and recovered a small quantity of cannabis in a bag, and a pipe used to smoke the drug. [cite web|title=Arrested sumo wrestler Wakanoho suspected of smoking dope at stable|publisher=Mainichi Daily News|url=http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080819p2a00m0na005000c.html|date=2008-08-19|accessdate=2008-08-19]

On 21 August, the Japan Sumo Association held a meeting of the board of directors and decided on the immediate dismissal of Wakanohō. It was the first time an active "rikishi" has been dismissed. [cite web|url=http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gc59qyCkmvXRSJKamZP_l-h9yuOA|title=Russian sumo wrestler Wakanoho banned for life after drug arrest|publisher=The Canadian Press|date=2008-08-21|accessdate=2008-08-21] He could have faced up to five years in prison or deportation from Japan. [cite web|title=Sumo slammed by first drugs scandal|publisher=CNN|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/08/18/sumo.drugs.scandal.ap/index.html|date=2008-08-18|accessdate=2008-08-18] However, on September 8, after eight days in police detention, he was released without punishment. [cite web|url=http://sankei.jp.msn.com/affairs/crime/080908/crm0809081445019-n1.htm|title=【角界大麻汚染】元若ノ鵬を釈放　起訴猶予の公算|language=Japanese|publisher=Sankei Shimbun|date=2008-09-08|accessdate=2008-09-09] Speaking to the press Wakanoho apologised for his actions and asked for forgiveness, but denied ever smoking with Roho and Hakurozan, both of whom were also dismissed after failing drug tests for cannabis. He visited the Ryogoku Kokugikan and asked to be readmitted to sumo, but the Sumo Association's directors refused his request. [cite web|title=Wakanoho begs to return to sumo|publisher=Japan Today|url=http://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/wakanoho-begs-to-return-to-sumo|date=2008-09-10|accessdate=2008-09-10] He responded by filing a lawsuit for unfair dismissal against the Association. [cite web|title=Wakanoho sues sumo association for unfair dismissal after drug arrest|publisher=Mainichi Daily News|url=http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/archive/news/2008/09/12/20080912p2a00m0na013000c.html|date=2008-09-12|accessdate=2008-10-06]

In the "banzuke" of the "aki basho" in September 2008, the East Maegashira #8 ranking that had been scheduled to be allocated for Wakanohō was left vacant. [cite web|title=大麻の元若ノ鵬、東前頭８枚目から削除…秋場所番付発表 |publisher=Yomiuri Shimbun |url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/sumo/news/20080901-OYT1T00239.htm |date=2008-09-01|accessdate=2008-09-01| language=Japanese] The last time this happened was when Tokitsuumi retired in October 2007 and was left off the November 2007 "banzuke".

Allegations of match-fixing

During a press conference on September 29, 2008 Wakanoho claimed he was forced to accept bribes to forfeit sumo matches. [cite web|url=http://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/fired-russian-wrestler-rocks-sumo-world-with-match-fixing-claims|title=Fired Russian wrestler rocks sumo world with match-fixing claims|publisher=Japan Today|date=2008-09-29|accessdate=2008-09-29] He has said he will appear for the "Shukan Gendai" magazine's defence of the lawsuit brought by the Sumo Association over other match-fixing allegations. [cite web|title=Disgraced wrestler Wakanoho to lift lid on sumo 'rigged bouts and drug abuse'|publisher=The Times|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4853100.ece|date=2008-09-30|accessdate=2008-10-02] In an interview for the tabloid he claimed that "ozeki" Kotooshu and "juryo" wrestler Kasuganishiki had asked him to throw matches against them. [cite web|title=Bulgarian star faces fixed bout allegation|publisher=AFP|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jcidTGXNgNeXrWIsCFUY3cm7pAOw|date=2008-10-06|accessdate=2008-10-06] Both wrestlers have denied the allegations. Wakanoho also called sumo a "show" and a "circus." [cite web|title=Kotooshu, ‘sumo’s David Beckham’, accused of bout-fixing by fellow wrestler|publisher=Daily Telegraph|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/insport/3145416/Kotooshu-sumos-David-Beckham-accused-of-bout-fixing-by-fellow-wrestler-Sumo-Wrestling.html|date=2008-10-06|accessdate=2008-10-06]

Top division record

Sumo record year start|2007 Basho Basho Basho Basho Basho Basho|m|13|w|9|6 Basho|m|10|e|10|5| Basho|m|4|e|8|7 Basho|m|2|w|8|7 Basho|m|1|w|4|11 Basho|INTAI|rank=m|tozai=e|r-no=8| Basho

References

ee also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of past sumo wrestlers

External links

* [http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_meikan/rikishi_joho/rikishi.php?A=2823 Japan Sumo Association biography]