In a rare move, grand champion sumo wrestler Asashoryu testified in court Oct. 3 and flatly denied being involved in match-fixing that was alleged in a weekly magazine.

During a hearing at the Tokyo District Court, Asashoryu was asked whether he had any experience with match-fixing, and replied, "No." It is extremely rare for an active yokozuna to testify in court.

The case involves three defamation suits filed by the Japan Sumo Association, Asashoryu and other sumo wrestlers against Kodansha Ltd., the publisher of Shukan Gendai magazine, and its editors and writers over the match-fixing claims.

Earlier in the day, Yorimasa Takeda, a non-fiction writer who made the allegations in the magazine, testified that Asashoryu played a central role in match-fixing.

"Lower-ranked wrestlers support the yokozuna's position. They sell victories to yokozuna wrestlers and buy wins with the money received from the yokozuna," Takeda said.