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

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