A former sumo wrestler has sued the Japan Sumo Association and a stable master. The plaintiff says that they refused his request to withdraw from the tournament due to concerns about the coronavirus infection, and he was forced to retire.

25-year-old Yanagihara Daisuke, whose fighting name was Kotokantetsu, filed a lawsuit with the Chiba district court.

In January 2021, Yanagihara told stable master Sadogatake that he wanted to withdraw from the upcoming tournament for fears of coronavirus infection as he had a cardiac problem. He asked Sadogatake to convey his request to the sumo association.

At that time, the Japanese government declared a state of emergency following the outbreak of COVID-19.

Yanagihara was later told by the stable master that the association rejected his request, saying that sumo wrestlers are not allowed to sit out a tournament due to fear of infections.

He demands that the sumo association and the stable master pay more than 4 million yen, or about 30,000 dollars, in compensation for mental suffering.

At a news conference on Thursday, Yanagihara said that he was forced to decide either to take part in the tournament, or to retire. He said that he had to choose retirement as it was a matter of life or death for him. He said that the association and the stable master should have taken a more flexible attitude.

The Japan Sumo Association declined to comment about the lawsuit, saying it had yet to receive a written complaint.