*This content was translated by AI.
The University of Distribution (RKU) soccer department, which is a "traditional powerhouse" of Japanese university football and boasts more than 60 years of history, has been embroiled in a shocking drug scandal. Five players were found to have inhaled hemp in the dormitory, causing an unprecedented situation in which they were raided by the police.
According to Japanese sports media Sponichi Annex on the 3rd, the Distribution Economy University held an emergency press conference in Chiba Prefecture, Japan on the 3rd, and officially announced that five male soccer team members were being investigated by Ibaraki Prefecture police for using illegal drugs in dormitories. All major school officials, including the university president and the dean, bowed their heads.
According to the press conference, the incident began in early February when rumors spread to director Yuji Nagano that "some members of the department inhale drugs in dormitories." The coaching staff, who received more specific information around February 24, conducted their own investigation and a simple urine test on February 26. In the end, one player tested positive. During further investigation, the remaining four players also admitted to the crime, saying, "We recognized that it was cannabis and used it together."
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the university immediately reported it to the police on February 27, and the police conducted a surprise raid on the soccer team's dormitory early on February 28.
Naoto Katayama, president of the College of Distribution Economics, bowed his head at the conference and said, "We deeply apologize for causing concern to those involved in the suspicion that five students in the school's soccer department used illegal drugs." Currently, the university has ordered the entire soccer department to suspend activities indefinitely, and manager Yuji Nakano, who is in charge, has also been suspended from his job.
Founded in 1965, the soccer department of Distribution Economy University is a prestigious Japanese university football team that won two Japanese university championships and four first division championships in the Kanto University League. It boasts a history of 61 years. In particular, the impact of this incident on the Japanese soccer community is even greater as it is well known as "Star Sansil," which has produced more than 100 professional players so far, including Morita Hidemasa (31, Sporting CP), a key defensive midfielder for the current Japanese national team and who has played more than 40 A matches.
Finally, the university concluded the press conference by adding, "We will set up a crisis management countermeasure headquarters to thoroughly investigate the facts and come up with measures to prevent recurrence."
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*This content was translated by AI.
