Four wrestlers have been banned from the sport of sumo wrestling for allegedly smoking marijuana over the past six months. This has led to a media frenzy in Japan, even bigger in comparison to the coverage of the Michael Phelps bong photo in the United States. In Japan, the sumo sport has deep religious roots and the punishments for marijuana possession are very strict — up to five years in prison.

Sumo initiated limited drug-testing in September after a Russian born wrestler was caught by police for allegedly possessing marijuana. Two other wrestlers, also from Russia, tested positive and were kicked out of the sport shortly after. A 25-year-old Japanese athlete who goes by the ring name of Wakakirin, is the fourth athlete to be kicked out after he was recently arrested for possession. The arrest of Wakakirin has raised concerns that marijuana use may be more common than originally thought in Japan’s still relatively drug-free country.