TOKYO: Japanese advertising giant Dentsu, for so long the power behind so many sporting thrones, is facing the worst crisis in its history.

Media agencies in Tokyo have reported that Dentsu is among six companies charged by local prosecutors under anti-monopoly laws with colluding the award of multi-million-dollar contracts linked to the 2020 Olympic Games.

Other companies named include Hakuhodo, Tokyu Agency and Cerespo.

Yasuo Mori, a senior local Olympic official, and Koji Henmi, who headed the sports division at Dentsu, are among seven individuals charged after having been arrested earlier this month. Separately French prosecutors are studying allegations that International Olympic Committee members may have been bribed to vote for Tokyo.

Dentsu was the local marketing arm for the Games and raised a record $3.3bn in sponsorship.

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