Yokozuna Asashoryu submitted a medical certificate Saturday to the Japan Sumo Association that prescribes three weeks of treatment for a bruised right chest.
Asashoryu, 28, who has been complaining of pain which he said has radiated from his chest down to his side and lower back area, departed the same day for his native Mongolia after filing a letter for his overseas trip to the JSA.
The yokozuna is scheduled to remain in Mongolia until June 29, the day the rankings will be announced for the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament taking place at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium on July 12-26.
Asashoryu sustained the injury on the penultimate day of the recently concluded summer meet in Tokyo when he was slammed to the dirt surface with an outer-leg trip by Mongolian ozeki Harumafuji, who went on to capture his first career title.
"I will make it in time (for the Nagoya meet). I have to," he said.