Japan Sumo Association Chairman Musashigawa said the governing body has to penalize Asashoryu if recent media reports about his drunken rampage were true. "We need to know what really happened," Musashigawa said. "If Asashoryu did attack the man, we have to impose a strict punishment on him."

Also, Takanohana, a former grand champion and newly elected member of the 10-man Japan Sumo Association board, hinted some punitive action against grand champion Asashoryu may be necessary if recent media reports about his drunken rampage in Tokyo are true.

"If they are true, we have to take it seriously," the 37-year-old Takanohana told reporters. "It is important to probe the case. The JSA members need to know what really happened," Takanohana added.

The 29-year-old Asashoryu's stablemaster, Takasago, said last weekend that the yokozuna and the man have reached an amicable settlement in connection with the Jan. 16 case and that he was ready to submit written statements of verification to Monday's JSA board. But Takasago did not show up at the board meeting.

The JSA board on Monday set up an investigative committee led by Hiroyoshi Murayama, former chief of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, to deal with the Asashoryu issue.