Nihon Univ. suspends American football team again over cannabis allegations

Nihon University said Friday that it has indefinitely suspended its American football team again and closed its dormitory over the suspected of possession of cannabis by more team members.

A team member was arrested for alleged possession of cannabis and an illegal stimulant on Aug. 5 following a police search of the football team’s dormitory in Tokyo.

Police search the dormitory of the Nihon University American football team in Tokyo on Aug. 22, 2023. (Kyodo)

The university then ordered the team to suspend practice indefinitely but said on Aug. 10 that it had lifted the suspension as “many students’ efforts will come to nothing if they are forced to assume joint responsibility.”

Tokyo police searched the dormitory again on Aug. 22 after other players were suspected of possessing cannabis, according to investigative sources.

“This is no longer about individual criminal behavior. Our management and supervisory responsibility as a university has now been called into question,” Nihon University said.

The American football team, a 21-time winner of the Koshien Bowl, the national college championship game, has been embroiled in a number of scandals, with its coach recently dismissed after allegations of bullying.

In 2018, the team came under fire over a dangerous tackle by one of its members in an exhibition game against Kwansei Gakuin University.

Related coverage:

Student arrested for alleged possession of cannabis, stimulant drug

Police search Nihon University gridiron team dorm over cannabis

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