Japan judo head to resign in wake of scandals

TOKYO (AFP) ― The head of Japan’s judo authority was Tuesday to announce his resignation according to reports, after the sport was sullied in its birthplace by a series of scandals including abusive coaching, sexual harassment and misuse of funds.

Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper and Jiji Press news agency said Haruki Uemura, head of the All Japan Judo Federation, and four other board members would step down after a meeting later in the day.

A Federation spokeswoman told AFP that a board meeting was scheduled but she was unable to give further details.

Japan’s judo community was rocked in January this year when it emerged the coach of the national women’s team was found to have used a bamboo sword to beat athletes, calling his charges “ugly” and telling them to “die” in the run-up to the London Olympics.

The coach later resigned.