Sumo wrestlers attend the spring grand sumo tournament held behind closed doors due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Edion Arena Osaka in Osaka on March 8, 2020. (STR / JIJI PRESS / AFP)

TOKYO - The Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, due to take place from May 24 to June 27, has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sport's governing body said on Monday.

Kyodo news agency reported that the grand tournament, which had already been postponed by two weeks, will not be held at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

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Kyodo news agency reported that the grand tournament, which had already been postponed by two weeks, will not be held at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan

The cancellation comes after the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, held at Edion Arena Osaka in March, became the first top-level meet to be held without spectators.

The association has also planned to move the Nagoya Grand Tournament, scheduled to open on July 19, to Tokyo, with the meet likely to also take place behind closed doors. The association has yet to make a final decision on the matter, Kyodo said.

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on Monday night that the nationwide state of emergency will be extended until the end of this month. It was originally set to expire on Wednesday.

Sumo, a Japanese traditional sport has been hit hard last month by COVID-19 as one stablemaster and five wrestlers were confirmed to test positive.