The Japan Wrestling Federation said Friday it has apologized to four-time Olympic champion Kaori Icho and other athletes for the power harassment they suffered at the hands of former JWF development director Kazuhito Sakae.
Chairman Tomiaki Fukuda met with Icho early this month to issue an apology and explain steps the association is taking to prevent similar incidents.
"We will return to a philosophy of putting athletes first and promise to give utmost support to all wrestlers, including Icho," Fukuda said in a statement from the federation.