Mar 30 (Kyodo) - Sumo's sole grand champion Hakuho, who withdrew from the recent Spring Grand Tournament with a knee injury, will remain subject to a stern warning over his repeated absences from competition, the sport's governing body decided Monday.
At a regular meeting in Tokyo, the Japan Sumo Association's yokozuna advisory body chose to uphold the warning it originally issued last November to Hakuho and fellow Mongolian-born grand champion Kakuryu, who has since retired.
The JSA agreed to make a final decision on the matter after the July grand tournament, which Hakuho has circled for his comeback following surgery on his troublesome right knee.
The 15-day March tourney concluded Sunday without a grand champion competing after both Hakuho and Kakuryu pulled out.
Kakuryu, who was missing from a fifth straight meet, announced his retirement from competition during the tournament.
