He later smashed a glass door of the bathroom and received a strong warning, but later assaulted two cameramen[1] and was punished by suspension for three days.

Back in the mid-maegashira ranks for March, he surprisingly failed to achieve a winning tournament, falling to his eighth defeat on the final day.

His favourite techniques were yorikiri (force out) and uwatenage (overarm throw), although he also relied heavily on henka (side stepping) and pull-downs.

[6] This test occurred less than two weeks after fellow Russian Wakanohō was sacked after being arrested for cannabis possession, and the surprise inspection was taken on 69 jūryō and higher ranked wrestlers, including the two yokozuna.

[7] Although the Metropolitan Police Department questioned the two wrestlers and searched their rooms, no further legal action was taken because it is not illegal to fail a drug test under Japanese law.

[8] On September 6, Roho and Hakurozan failed a second, more detailed set of doping tests,[9] and he announced that he would not accept the outcome of a second positive reading for drug use on the next day.

[10] On September 8, the Japan Sumo Association held a meeting of the board of directors and decided on the dismissals of Rohō and Hakurozan.

[11][12] Both wrestlers moved out of their respective stables but remained in Japan on short term visas and continued to deny any wrongdoing.

However it was reported by the Sumo Association that the brothers had admitted to officials at the testing that they had smoked cannabis whilst on a tour of Los Angeles in June.

[13] On October 28, the brothers filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court seeking to revoke their dismissals, arguing that the tests were administered incorrectly.

"[16] Former Sumo Association chairman Kitanoumi testified on December 21, saying it was the supposed admission by the brothers that they had smoked on the LA tour that tipped the balance in favour of expulsion.