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Japanese club hit by cocaine charge

By Online Editors
Thursday 20 Jun 2019

NEWS: World Cup hosts Japan has been hit by a drugs scandal.

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Toyota Verblitz flyhalf Ryota Kabashima has been arrested on suspicion of possessing cocaine, forcing the team to be withdrawn from the Top League Cup.

The KYODO NEWS website reports that  Verblitz, coached by 2007 Rugby World Cup winner Jake White, were scheduled to face Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars at Iwagin Stadium in Iwate Prefecture in their first group stage match on Sunday.

The news comes as Japanese domestic rugby is dealing with the body blow of the Sunwolves franchise being ejected from Super Rugby due to poor results.

Super Rugby has opted to instead revert to a 14-team round robin format from 2021.

Kabashima, 28, is an employee of Toyota Motor Corp and is suspected of violating the narcotics control law over the alleged possession of about one gram of cocaine, according to Aichi Prefectural Police.

The cocaine was discovered in Kabashima’s wallet after he left it in a taxi on April 10 while visiting Toyota, Aichi Prefecture.

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The taxi driver handed in the wallet two days later, and police identified the wallet from Kabashima’s driver’s licence. Kabashima has denied the charges, saying he “doesn’t remember,” according to police.

Toyota Motor Corp has suspended its Top League team’s operations for the time being and told the Japan Rugby Football Union it intends to withdraw the side from the second edition of the Top League Cup, starting on Saturday and wrapping up August 10.

“It is regrettable that an athlete has been arrested who had entered into the world of fair play. We would like to apologise to everyone who has given their help and support so far,” the company said in a statement.

Toyota finished fourth in the Japan Rugby Top League last season and their squad includes South African Gio Aplon and former New Zealand sevens player Steven Yates.

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Sources: Kyodo News & RugbyPass

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