Sumo grand champion Harumafuji has said he will retire from the sport, in a scandal that has rocked Japan’s highly ceremonial sport.

He is being investigated for an alleged assault on a junior wrestler.

The grand champion told a press conference today that he “apologized from [his] heart” to his fans, the governing sports body and his wife “for causing such trouble”.

He did not give any details about the incident which is still under investigation by the Japan Sumo Association (JSA).

According to media reports, the fight occurred when the star got angry because his younger colleague was checking his smartphone. The junior wrestler had to be hospitalized after suffering a concussion and a fractured skull base in the incident.

The Mongolian wrestler started his career in Japan at the age of 16 and was promoted to grand champion – sumo’s highest rank – in 2012.

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