Asashoryu ended his hugely successful, yet often controversial career, on his own terms Thursday afternoon as sumo's first Mongolian yokozuna announced his retirement while facing allegations of assault.

Asashoryu made the announcement following a Japan Sumo Association board meeting to which he had been summoned, where the 25-time Emperor's Cup winner faced accusations that he punched a male acquaintance while drunk in Tokyo's Nishiazabu district during the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament he won last month.

The Yokozuna Deliberation Council was scheduled to decide on his fate after the board meeting, but Asashoryu beat them to it.

Asashoryu, who claims he was too drunk to remember the night of Jan. 16, would have been the first yokozuna to be expelled in the ancient sport's history had the council decided to do so.

The council revealed it was preparing to expel Asashoryu had he not retired.

"Nothing special's really coming to mind right now," Asashoryu said during a hastily arranged press conference at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. "I sit here because I feel responsible, that I owe something to all those who supported me.

"I caused trouble to a lot of people and I feel hugely responsible as yokozuna. I was the only one who could finish this matter the right way.

"I think I was destined to end my career like this."

Yokozuna Asashoryu wipes away a tear after announcing his retirement Thursday afternoon.

Asashoryu does not have Japanese citizenship, which is a prerequisite to stay in sumo postretirement.

"We apologize to the victim and all sumo fans for yokozuna Asashoryu's latest actions that have invited distress and worry," JSA chief Musashigawa said.

"We discussed the extent of Asashoryu's punishment at the board meeting today, and he and his stablemaster [Takasago] asked to step out of the meeting to make a decision. They returned very apologetic over the incident, asked for retirement and the board accepted."

Added Takasago: "It was good he finished his career his way. I'll never forget him. I couldn't even if I tried."

Asashoryu, whose real name is Dolgorsurengiin Dagvadorj, came to Japan in 1997 to attend Meitoku Gijuku High School in Kochi Prefecture.

He made his sumo debut at the New Year basho two years later, and was promoted to yokozuna in 2003.

Asashoryu won a record seven straight titles starting with the 2004 Kyushu Grand Tournament.

He has the third most championships of all time behind the legendary Taiho (32) and Chiyonofuji (31).

Yet for all his success in the ring, Asashoryu's class as yokozuna was often put into question.

Unseen from a wrestler of the highest rank, he would pump his fist and stare down opponents on the dohyo, drawing warnings from the JSA and criticisms from the purists each time.

Asashoryu was pushed to the brink of retirement once before in 2007, when he withdrew from the summer regional tour citing injury, but was caught playing soccer in Mongolia with former Japan national team star Hidetoshi Nakata.

Many called for his dismissal then, and Asashoryu became clinically depressed as he waited for the verdict from the JSA, which hit him with two-tournament suspension--the worst punishment ever bestowed on a yokozuna.

Asashoryu is the first yokozuna to quit under pressure since Futahaguro walked out in 1987 after an argument with his elder and his stablemaster's wife.

In 1949, yokozuna Maedayama retired to take responsibility for the bad publicity he generated by attending a baseball game while absent from a tournament due to injury.

This article was first published in The Daily Yomuiri/Asia News Network.