THE head of Japan’s sumo association apologised today over an incident in which women first responders were asked to get out of the ring as they attempted to revive an official who had collapsed.

In sumo’s tradition, the ring is considered sacred and women are prohibited from entering.

That posed a problem yesterday when Ryozo Tatami, the 67-year-old mayor of Maizuru in northern Kyoto, collapsed during a ring-top speech. Two women, apparently medical experts, rushed in and started performing first aid as several male sumo officials surrounding the mayor looked on.