Japan judo champ pleads innocent in rape trial

Two-time Olympic judo champion Masato Uchishiba has pleaded innocent to raping a teenager at the start of his Tokyo District Court trial.

Media quoted the 34-year-old Uchishiba as saying Wednesday he had consensual sex with the girl.

Prosecutors accused him of intoxicating the young judoka with alcoholic drinks and taking advantage of her inability to resist. Uchishiba, her trainer at the time, claims she was awake and consented to have sex with him.

Her exact age has not been disclosed.

Uchishiba was arrested in December. If convicted, he could face more than three years in prison. A ruling is expected in January.

He won gold medals in the 66-kg class in the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was fired as a college judo coach in September over sexual harassment allegations.

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