Wakanoho, whose real name is Soslan Gagloyev, was banned by the Japanese sumo association in late August after dropping a marijuana "joint" in the street. The move resulted in sweeping drug tests for some 69 top wrestlers in Japan resulting in further bans for two other Russian wrestlers.
Soslan and Batraz Boradzov, who are brothers, also received a life ban after testing positive for marijuana. Although both men have denied smoking the drug, tests revealed the concentration levels were too high to have been caused by passive smoking.
Wakanoho's lawyer, Makoto Miyata, said his client had submitted an appeal for his membership to the sumo association to be restored along with his monthly allowance of around $12,000.
The disgraced Russian wrestler, who admitted buying the drug, has made a public apology to the federation but the association has refused to overturn the ban.
Miyata told journalists on Friday that the life ban was extremely harsh on his client as other incidents involving sumo wrestlers had resulted in only temporary suspensions.
Miyata cited the case of a temporary ban for three sumo wrestlers who beat a 17-year-old junior trainee. The young wrestler died of his injuries the next day.
In addition he said Toki, a Japanese wrestler, was suspended for just one tournament after hitting and killing a pedestrian while driving his car in Osaka in 2000.
Smoking cannabis is not illegal in Japan, although possession of the drug carries a maximum sentence of five years.
