TOKYO A Japanese sumo wrestler was arrested Friday for possessing marijuana, police said, the latest in a string of drug-related scandals hitting the ancient sport, AFP reported.

Police arrested 25-year old Shinichi Suzukawa, whose ring name is Wakakirin, after he was found with 16 grams (0.56 ounces) of marijuana in an office in Tokyo, a police official said.

A musician who was in his company was also arrested for drug possession, the official said.

Wakakirin admitted to the crime, the official said. Japan has strict laws against both hard and soft drugs, unlike a growing number of countries that have decriminalised marijuana.

Japanese traditionalists expect sumo wrestlers to be role models who lead nearly ascetic lives that involve early-morning training and participation in rituals.

Television reports said police raided the musicians office for separate reasons and found Wakakirin sitting on a sofa. They later found the drug wrapped in a tissue on the table, the television said.

Wakakirins stable master said he was dumbfounded by the arrest which he learned about by watching television.

'I am sorry that he has caused inconvenience to everyone. Personally I had hopes for this wrestler. This cant be happening,' said Oguruma, bowing deeply in front of flashing cameras.

The Japan Sumo Association said it would convene a board meeting and deal 'severely' with Wakakirin once more facts are known about the case.

'I am disappointed and feel completely betrayed,' said sumo association chief Musashigawa.

Drug use is one of a series of scandals to have recently marred the image of the sumo industry, including allegations of match-fixing.

Three Russian wrestlers were expelled from the sumo world last year for allegedly smoking marijuana. Two of them, the brothers Roho and Hakurozan, unsuccessfully tried to sue sumo officials for defamation.

'It does not matter whether they are foreign or Japanese wrestlers. A crime is a crime. I expect (Wakakirin) to atone' for his crime, Musashigawa said.