Japanese Olympic Committee said Thursday its president Yasuhiro Yamashita has had spine surgery and no return date has been set after he fell while off-duty.
The 66-year-old Yamashita, the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics gold medalist in the men's judo open category, suffered a cervical spine injury Sunday before having surgery and being hospitalized.
Japanese Olympic Committee President Yasuhiro Yamashita speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Sept. 13, 2023. (Kyodo)
Vice President Yuko Mitsuya, a former women's volleyball player, will deputize in his absence.
Yamashita assumed the JOC presidency in June 2019 and was re-elected for a third term this June.
Yamashita, also an International Olympic Committee member, left his role as the All Japan Judo Federation President the same month, citing strain as one reason for his decision.
