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(AP) --  Tokyo police have arrested a former sumo wrestler
on suspicion of extortion, causing further damage to the image of
Japan's national sport.

 Kyodo News agency reports Thursday that police have arrested
38-year-old Mitsutomo Furuichi on suspicion of extorting $38,800 in
hush money from wrestler Kotomitsuki to cover up his gambling on
professional baseball games.

 The arrest is the latest development in a betting scandal that
has cast a shadow over Japan's ancient sport. An internal survey by
the Japan Sumo Association earlier this month found that at least
65 members of the association had been involved in illegal
gambling.
 Public broadcaster NHK is considering canceling live coverage of
the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, scheduled to begin July 11, over
the scandal.

(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)