Former sumo wrestler Soslan Aleksandrovich Gagloev, who was fired by the Japan Sumo Association for possessing marijuana in August, said he was forced to take bribes to throw matches during competition.

"I was forced to accept money and put in unfair matches," Gagloev said. He said he would provide more details in court.

At a news conference in Tokyo, Gagloev, whose ring name was Wakanoho, said he will testify in court on behalf of Shukan Gendai, a weekly magazine that was sued for defamation by the association for publishing articles about match-fixing.

Gagloev, the first wrestler to be dismissed in sumo's storied history, also said other sumo wrestlers and coaches smoke marijuana.

"I wonder if it's appropriate not to punish them," he said.