The Japanese Sumo Wrestling Federation stated on Tuesday that sumo wrestler Hakuho initially lost his sense of smell and then tested positive for covid-19.
Hakuho would have participated in a competition this weekend, but the positive test result set those plans apart.
Miss this weekend's competitions
Hakuho is a "yokozuna" - that is, a master in sumo wrestling.
In an interview last year, he told how his late father was a silver medalist in wrestling for Mongolia at the 1968 Olympics.
Increased infection in Japan
On Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that he was considering declaring a state of emergency as corona infection increased in several areas of the country.