Sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze submitted a report to the directors of the Japan Sumo Association on Wednesday over the death of 17-year-old wrestler Takashi Saito, maintaining that his treatment of the young wrestler wasn't what caused him to die.

In the report, the stablemaster pleaded for a chance to explain his actions. The report arrived as the association prepares to hold an emergency board meeting on Friday to decide on punishment for Tokitsukaze, who has admitted hitting Saito with a beer bottle shortly before his death.

Some directors have stated that in light of Tokitsukaze's report, it would be hard to hand down severe punishment on him. It had been expected that Tokitsukaze would be sacked during the meeting, but the latest development is likely to strongly affect the meeting's outcome.

In the report, Tokitsukaze apologized for causing the association "great trouble" and explained the events leading up to the death of Saito, who wrestled under the name Tokitaizan.

The stablemaster said the beer bottle he used to hit Saito had struck the 17-year-old's forehead, drawing blood when Saito tried to move away, but he said the wound Saito received was not deep. He added that what appeared to be burn marks on Saito's skin could have been caused by a contagious skin infection.

Tokitaizan also denied that he had tried to go ahead and cremate Saito's body before it had been handed over to his family.

Saito died during a training session on June 26. Police are continuing to investigate the death.

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