Judo: Japan coach to quit over abuse claims

Published on 01/02/2013 01:21

The International Judo Federation has condemned the actions of Japan’s national women’s coach, who is set to resign after admitting he physically abused some of his squad.

Complaints by 15 athletes were made to the Japanese 
Olympic Committee in December, including being slapped and hit with bamboo swords by head coach Ryuji Sonoda.

He admitted the allegations were “more or less true”, and has submitted his resignation to the All Japan Judo Federation.

World governing body IJF issued a strongly-worded statement, saying: “In direct connection with the complaint of a group of athletes from the national Japanese women’s team, reporting the acts from their coach, the IJF strongly emphasises its total disapproval of such behaviours.

“The IJF is particularly focused on the development and promotion of the moral code of judo. Judo is a method to develop the physical and mental capacities, whose primary concern is to maintain the health and integrity (physical and mental) of the participants. Any action that goes against these principles are banned. The IJF will therefore take all necessary measures.”

Japan only won one judo gold medal at London 2012, in the women’s under-57kg category, with the nation which founded the martial art finishing only fourth in the medals table.