The Sumo Association acknowledges it's concerned. The increasingly large size of the wrestlers is a problem. The association has started collecting and analyzing health data for each wrestler, and is promoting a more individual approach to training, Wakamatsu said. It has eased weight requirements for prospective pros, opening the door to lightweights who are more likely to be quicker and more agile. Youths 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 147 pounds, down from 5 feet 9 inches and 165 pounds, can now take the association's physical tests, .
Many wrestlers remain heavy all their lives, although most slim down after their fighting days.
And each training stable remains free to set its own guidelines on practice and diet. Mainoumi, a former wrestler who had silicon implanted under his scalp to pass the old height requirement, said one problem is lack of discipline. Heavy drinking and the resulting liver problems are also common. Some stable masters are said to encourage drinking beer at meals as a means of putting on more weight. And rumors about doping persist, although no cases have been proven.