Part 1: General provisions

Article 1: Name

The official name of this federation shall be the international Sumó Federation (hereafter referred to as simply "the Federation").

Article 2: Office

The office of the Federation shall be established in the Onoya Bldg. 7F, 2-20-1 Hyakunincho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. Japan.

Article 3: Provisions concerning equality and nonintervention

1. In the Federation there shall be no discrimination on the basis of race, religion, political beliefs or for any other reason.

2. The Federation shall neither engage in political activity nor intervene in the internal affairs of the organizations that are its members (hereafter referred to as "member
organizations").

3. No member organization shall intervene in the internal affairs of another member organization.

Article 4: Language

The official languages of the Federation are designated as Japanese and English. However, only Japanese shall be used in reference to facilities, equipment and techniques.

Part 2: Objectives and Operations

Article 5: Objectives

The objectives of the Federation, as an international organization for amateur sumó competition, shall be the international promotion and advancement of the traditional
Japanese sport of sumó, and friendship among its member organizations.

Article 6: Activities

The Federation shall engage in the following activities in order to achieve the objectives prescribed in Article 5.

(1) Promoting the founding of overseas organizations involved in sumó competitions.

(2) Establishing international rules concerning sumó competition and other areas.

(3) Holding world championship sumó tournaments and other international athletic meets.

(4) Holding classes and meetings concerning sumó.

(5) Providing assistance in the acquisition of sumó equipment and reference material, etc.

(6) Promoting the exchange of information among member organizations through such means as the publication of a bulletin.

(7) Other activities necessary to achieve the Federation's objectives.

Part 3: Member Organizations

Article 7: Membership

1. Overseas organizations involved in sumó competition can become members of the Federation if approved by vote at a general meeting of the Federation. (However, only one organization per country can be admitted to the Federation as a representative of that country in matters concerning sumó competition.)

2. An organization that is recognized by the executive board of directors as being amply qualified to become a member organization may be tentatively designated as a member organization until the next general meeting. Procedures for approval of this organization's membership must be initiated promptly at the first general meeting held thereafter.

3. The application process for membership and tentative membership, as well as other details, shall be decided separately.

Article 8: Membership fees and yearly dues

1. Each member organizations must pay a membership fee and yearly dues to the Federation.

2. The exact amounts of this membership fee and yearly dues shall be determined at a general meeting.

Article 9: Revocation of membership

The membership of a member organization will be revoked in the event of the following.

(1) Withdrawal from the Federation

(2) Dissolution of the member organization

(3) Expulsion from the Federation

Article 10: Withdrawal from the Federation

Any member organization seeking to withdraw from the Federation shall submit notification of its intentions along with the reasons for withdrawal. This withdrawal must be approved by the Federation at a general meeting.

Article 11: Expulsion

A member organization whose conduct falls under one of the following items can be expelled from the Federation by a two-thirds vote at a general meeting.

(1) Violations of the obligations of a member organization

(2) Compromising the honor of the Federation^ or taking action contrary to the objectives of the Federation.

(3) Failing to pay yearly dues for two years or more.

Part 4: Officers, etc.

Article 12: Officers

The Federation shall appoint the following officers.

(1) One chairman

(2) An appropriate number of vice-chairmen

(3) One secretary-general

(4) Directors: one director from each member organization and an appropriate number of directors appointed by the chairman (of which II shall be executive directors)

(5) Two auditors

Article 13: The appointment process

1. The chairman and vice-chairmen shall be elected at a general meeting.

2. The secretary-general shall be appointed by the chairman with the approval of those present at the general meeting.

3. Executive directors shall be chosen from among the directors through their mutual vote.

4. Auditors shall be elected at a general meeting. However, an auditor may not concurrently serve as another officer.

Article 14: Officers' duties

1. The chairman shall oversee the affairs of the Federation as a representative thereof.

2. The vice-chairmen shall assist the chairman and, when unavoidable circumstances prevent the latter from performing his duties, shall perform the duties of chairman in accordance with the latter's instructions.

3. The secretary-general is entrusted by the chairman with the administration of the Federation's affairs.

4. The executive directors shall assist the chairman and vice-chairmen and be responsible for the Federation's daily affairs.

5. The directors shall attend the Federation's general meetings and decide matters concerning the accomplishment of the Federation's affairs.

6. The auditors shall inspect the Federation's operations and audit the Federation's accounts.

Article 15: Length of term

1. The term of an officer shall be two years, with reappointment allowable.

2. The term of an officer appointed to fill a vacancy or a newly-created position shall be equivalent to the remainder of the term of the newly-appointed officer's predecessor or to the terms of the present officers.

3. An officer shall continue to perform his or her duties following the end of this term until a successor assumes those duties.

Article 16: Dismissal of an officer

An officer can be dismissed by a two-thirds vote of the officers at a general meeting in the following conditions.

(1) When the officer is recognized as being unable to perform his or her duties due to physical or mental infirmity.

(2) When the officer is recognized as having committed an action that violates his or her duties or is otherwise unbecoming of an officer of the Federation.

Article 17: The position of honorary chairman, etc.

1. The Federation is authorized to appoint an honorary chairman, honorary advisor, and advisor.

2. The honorary chairman, honorary advisor and advisor are appointed by the chairman after being nominated by the executive directors.

3. The honorary chairman may express to the chairman his opinions on important matters concerning the Federation.

4. The honorary advisor and advisor shall respond to the chairman's requests for advice.

Part 5: Meetings

Article 18: Convening a general meeting

1. A general meeting, constituted by the officers of the Federation, shall be convened once a year by the chairman.

2. The chairman may also convene a special meeting when so requested by the executive directors or in other situations in which the necessity of a meeting has been recognized.

Article 19: Matters voted on at a general meeting

In addition to the matters specified in these statutes, the following matters shall also be voted on at general meetings.

(1) Matters concerning plans for Federation activities and the Federation's budget

(2) Matters concerning reports on the Federation's activities and the settling of the Federation's accounts

(3) Other important matters concerning the Federation's operations

Article 20: Executive board of directors

1. The executive board of directors, comprised of the chairman, vice-chairman, secretary-general and the executive directors, shall be convened by the chairman when necessary.

2. The executive board of directors shall deliberate matters specified in these statutes and other important matters concerning the performance of the Federation's duties.

Article 21: Chair

The chairman shall chair all meetings.

Article 22: Quorum and voting

1. Proceedings cannot be begun nor voting carried out unless a meeting is attended by at least half of the members. However, a member is counted as being in attendance if he or she has submitted a written statement expressing his or her voting intentions on the matter in question.

2. Except when otherwise specified, the proceedings of a meeting shall be decided by majority vote; the chair has the deciding vote in the event of a tie.

Article 23: Minutes

Minutes shall be taken at all meetings, signed by the chair and at least two representative attending members, and kept for future reference.

Part 6: Assets and accounts

Article 24: Assets

The assets of the Federation are as follows.

(1) Assets listed on the statement of assets as of the Federation's founding

(2) Funds collected as membership fees and yearly dues 

(3) Income from assets

(4) Income from activities

(5) Donated funds and goods

(6) Other income

Article 25: The administration of assets

The Federation's assets shall be administered by the chairman under guidelines approved by resolution at general meetings.

Article 26: Fiscal year

The Federation's fiscal year shall begin on March I and end on February 28.

Part 7: Supplementary rules

Article 27: Sumó competition committee

1. The Federation shall appoint a sumó competition committee.

2. This sumó competition committee shall be comprised of sumó competition committee members and shall deliberate, in response to the chairman's requests for advice, matters concerning actual sumó competition, such as rules, refereeing, facilities and equipment.

3. Sumó competition committee members shall be appointed by the chairman at a meeting of the executive board of directors.

4. The activities of the sumó competition committee shall comply with the provisions of Article 15.

Article 28: Expert committee

1. in addition to the sumó competition committee described in Article 27, the Federation can, through a resolution passed at a general meeting, appoint an expert committee if needed to achieve the objectives of the Federation.

2. The IFS will comply with Rule 48 of the Olympic Charter regarding doping. The Medical Committee of the IFS will be the expert committee and enforce the provisions and sanctions of this rule.

3. Matters concerning the management of an expert committee shall be determined through deliberation at general meetings.

Article 29: Regional affiliated organizations

Each member organizations is authorized to organize affiliated organizations in their respective regions as part of the international promotion and advancement of sumó in that region and to promote friendship among member groups.

Article 30: Revising these statutes

These statutes can be revised only through a two-thirds vote at a general meeting.

Article 31: Dissolving the Federation

A four-thirds vote at a general meeting is necessary to dissolve the federation.

Article 32: Disposing of remaining assets

The disposing of remaining assets in the event of the Federation's dissolving is to be decided by four-thirds vote at a general meeting.

Article 33: Detailed regulations

Detailed regulations concerning the execution and enforcement of these statutes are to be decided through deliberation at general meetings.

Supplementary provisions

1. These statutes shall take effect on December 10, 1992.

2. The member organizations representing Japan (referred to here as "the Japan Sumó Federation") shall, for the time being, provide leadership in the administration of the Federation, and provide other member organizations with advice and guidance.

3. In exception to the provisions of Article 26, the Federation's first fiscal year shall begin on December 10, 1992, and end on September 30, 1993.

Provisions Concerning the Appointment of Executive Directors

For the time being, the number of executive directors appointed, through mutual election, from member organizations in the following countries or areas in accordance with Article 13, paragraph 3, of the Statutes of the International Sumó Federation, are to be as listed below.

(1) Asia (excluding Japan) 1

(2) North America 1

(3) Central and South America 1

(4) Europe 1

(5) Africa 1

(6) Oceania 1

(7) Japan ' 5

(Including directors appointed by the chairman in accordance with Article 12, paragraph 4 of these statutes.)

Supplemental provisions

These provisions shall take effect on December 10, 1992.