Kitanoumi said that Hakurozan "had told me he had not used it, and I believed him." Both wrestlers moved out of their respective stables but stayed in Japan on short term visas and continued to deny any wrongdoing.
Hakurozan allegedly told Kitanoumi that he hadn't utilized the substance, and Kitanoumi accepted his claim. The two wrestlers left their respective training facilities but stayed in Japan for a brief period on temporary visas while still denying any misconduct.