3 more in sumo world admit to gambling

Three more names surfaced Friday in a widening gambling scandal that is shaking the sumo world.

Among them is Tokitsukaze , 36, who became a stablemaster after his predecessor faced criminal charges in the beating death of a teenage wrestler.

Tokitsukaze and top-division wrestlers Goeido and Toyohibiki each admitted involvement in illegal baseball gambling, sources close to the Japan Sumo Association said.

The JSA said Monday that 29 sumo elders and wrestlers had confessed to baseball gambling and 36 others to gambling on golf and hanafuda card games.

Ozeki Kotomitsuki, stablemaster Otake and top-division wrestler Toyonoshima have already been questioned by the association.

The JSA will call the first meeting of its panel of outside experts on Monday to get a grip on the scandal.

Tokitsukaze became stablemaster after his predecessor, Junichi Yamamoto, was dismissed. A 17-year-old wrestler died in June 2007 following a beating by three fellow wrestlers ordered by Yamamoto.