TOKYO, Aug 18: Japanese police said on Monday they had arrested a 20-year-old Russian sumo wrestler, ranked in the top division of professional sumo, on suspicion of possessing cannabis.

Tokyo police said the wrestler was suspected of being in possession of 0.4 grams of cut cannabis leaves and a cigarette containing cannabis. They said the offence occurred in June.

Police declined to release the name of the wrestler, who they said was still a teenager at the time of the alleged incident.

The incident follows recent scandals in the ancient sport of sumo, including the arrest of a former gym chief in February on suspicion of assault following the death of a teenage wrestler.

The sumo gym the wrestler trained at could not be reached for comment.—Reuters