Japanese Judo Coach Fired for Alleged Harassment

Retired two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Masato Uchishiba was fired on Tuesday as a university coach because of sexual harassment allegations.

A statement released Tuesday by Kyushu University of Nursing and Social Welfare said the 33-year-old Uchishiba had been coaching judo at the school but was fired in September after giving a female student an alcoholic drink at a hotel and sexually harassing her.

Uchishiba has denied claims of sexual harassment.

Quoting school officials, Kyodo news agency reported that the student was under 20. The legal drinking age in Japan is 20.

Uchishiba won gold in the 66-kilogram class at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. He announced his retirement from competition in October 2010 and became a visiting professor at the university in January.