TOKYO - Controversial sumo champion Asashoryu is in hot water again after skipping training because he did not want to risk catching the H1N1 flu on a bus.

TOKYO - Controversial sumo champion Asashoryu is in hot water again after skipping training because he did not want to risk catching the H1N1 flu on a bus.

About 30 wrestlers and sumo officials have caught the flu over the past 10 days.

Wrestlers and sumo fans have been wearing flu masks as a precaution against the outbreak.

Mongolian "yokozuna" Asashoryu told Japanese media yesterday he would take up the matter with the wrestlers' union after being reprimanded for a morning no-show at the weekend.

"(The infected wrestlers) were on the same bus, which was a reason," said the 23-time Emperor's Cup winner, adding that the Japan Sumo Association had done little to protect wrestlers from infection. The sport's governing body said they were monitoring the situation closely. - Reuters