A Japanese Olympic Committee investigation has concluded that 15 elite female judoka suffered a "grave injustice" from the physical and verbal abuse inflicted by former national team coach Ryuji Sonoda, sources said.
Although the extent of Sonoda's depravity only recently began to emerge, a report compiled by the JOC starkly paints him as a sadist who would routinely smack the women across the face and brandish a whip or stick during training sessions to intimidate them.
While physically threatening his charges, Sonoda, who resigned Feb. 1 after the scandal broke, would scream insults at them, such as: "You're the same as barn animals if you can't move unless I give you a beating."