Wrestlers come in from the cold

Japan's sumo giants have been banned from playing golf and told to strictly obey traffic laws as the sport gears up for its formal return from a damaging bout-fixing scandal.

Sumo officials are turning the screw after being given the government's go-ahead to hold its first tournament since a sting operation led to 25 wrestlers and trainers being fired.

"This is really the start so I want the wrestlers to be braced for it," Japan Sumo Association chairman Hanaregoma said.

"I want them to go into battle feeling the nerves."