On September 2, 2008, he and his brother Hakurozan had a positive test result for cannabis. This test occurred less than two weeks after fellow Russian Wakanohō was sacked after being arrested for cannabis possession, and the surprise inspection was taken on 69 "jūryō" and higher ranked wrestlers, including the two "yokozuna". Although the Metropolitan Police Department questioned the two wrestlers and searched their rooms, no further legal action was taken because it is not illegal to fail a drug test under Japanese law.