They received subsidies totalling totalling ¥36.2 million (£240,000/$371,000/€281,000) provided by the Japan Sports Council from 2007 onward even during periods when they did not coach any athletes, the panel said.

The Investigating Committee, headed by lawyer Takahiro Yamauchi, had already issued a damning mid-term report in April that had criticised the AJJF. 

The Committee reported that former AJJF technical director and Board member Kazuo Yoshimura "must shoulder the heaviest responsibility," and that secretary general Kiyoshi Murakami and Uemura (pictured top) were also to blame.

AJJF technical director Kazuo Yoshimura, bowing for apology during a press conference on his resignation on February following the abuse scandal, is at the centre of new controversy

It said Uemura also has to take responsibility for hiring Yoshimura.

The report discovered that 12 of the 27 coaches did not qualify for subsidies during any of the periods, while 15 did for some of the period.

It branded a "development reserve fund" collected by the AJJF from subsidy recipients as "inappropriate".

Yamauchi warned that the AJJF should "take the report seriously and take appropriate action," adding it is "a last chance" to reform the body.

"Chairman Uemura is highly capable, but I want him to consider whether he has been taking the right measures," Yamauchi said.

Uemura, the 1976 Olympic open class gold medallist, had already vowed that he would not step down until he had overseen a reform of the AJJF, which had originally been plunged into crisis in January when it had been revealed that its coaches had been abusing female judokas in preparation for London 2012.

"I will double check and analyse the final report and discuss it thoroughly at a Board meeting [on Monday June 24]," said Uemura.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
June 2013: Vizer gives Japan deadline to finalise report on judo abuse scandal
May 2013: Japanese judo rocked again by sexual harrassment scandal
March 2013: Judo punished by Japanese Olympic Committee with funding cut after abuse scandal
March 2013: Panel investigating Japan judo scandal make recommendations to AJJF
March 2013: Japanese acting head women's judo coach offers to step down in wake of abuse scandal