Breaking News English

A top Japanese judo coach has said he used [violent / violence] against some of Japan’s [top / topping] Judo athletes. The All Japan Judo Federation (AJJF) said it gave [head / headless] coach Ryuji Sonoda, 39, an [official / office] warning for his actions. It also told Mr Sonoda he would not lose his job but that he must change his [coaching / coach] style. The AJJF boss Koshi Oozawa told reporters: "We [received / receiving] information that Mr Sonoda, the head coach of the female [nationality / national] team, might have been physically bullying athletes." Sonoda told the Kyodo News Agency: "Until [now / not] I have been doing things the way I saw fit, but I will mend the things that need [faxing / fixing] ." Japan's Sports Minister Hakubun Shimomura said the coach's actions were [unforgivable / unforgiving] .

The issue came [down / up] after 15 of Japan's top female judo stars wrote a letter of [complaining / complaint] to the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) in December. They described Mr Sonoda's bullying [tactics / tactical] . These included [slapped / slapping] the women across the face, kicking and [shaving / shoving] them, and hitting them with wooden swords. He also warned them that he would [remove / removal] them from his team if they did not do what he wanted. Many of the [athletes / athletics] were on the Japan team at the London Olympics in 2012. The JOC said it was [vital / virtual] to make sure the women could train without being [fear / afraid] of their coach. A senior JOC official said: “We need to get a proper [grip / drip] on the situation and train the trainers thoroughly”.