The famous Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kaloyan Mahlianov - Kotooshu is going to sue the Japanese tabloid Shukan Gendai for defamation. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
The famous Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kaloyan Mahlianov - Kotooshu is going to sue the Japanese tabloid Shukan Gendai and former Russian sumo wrestler Soslan Gagloev - Wakahono, as reported by the Bulgarian sports site Gong.bg.
The Bulgarian wrestler is going to file a defamation claim against the tabloid, which has published an article stating that Kotooshu has paid Wakahono to throw matches.
Shukan Gendai printed the article containing Wakanoho's allegations just a day after Yokozuna Asashoryu appeared as a witness in the libel suit the Japan Sumo Association filed against the magazine for an earlier article about match fixing.
Kotooshu also intends to sue the Russian himself. Gagloev, who was recently banned for life after he was arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana, claims he was forced to accept bribes to lose matches.
According to Wakanoho, Kotooshu approached him and told him in Russian that he wanted Wakanoho to lose. However, Kotooshu has denied the allegations, adding that he can only speak very simple Russian and does not even know the phrase Wakanoho has accused him of speaking.
"We are both Europeans. If you do this for me, I will never forget it. I will give you one USD 9,700 dollars. Everyone is doing it, so don't worry. Please help," Kotooshu told Gagloev, according to the magazine.
It was reported that currently lawyers are looking for Wakahono to summon him to appear for other cases and that his mother has demanded that he return home and stop bringing "shame" to Russia.
More on the topic can be found at: http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=97633