Juan Antonio Samaranch, honorary president for life of the International Olympic Committee, has given his backing to softball's bid to return to the Olympic Games, the International Softball Federation said.

Samaranch, whose shrewd political manoeuvres during his 1980-2001 presidency dragged the IOC out of its worst crisis and established it as a global sports force, has agreed to serve as honorary chairman of the federation's task force.

Softball and baseball became the first sports to be cut from the Olympics since 1936 when the IOC voted them off the 2012 London Games programme last year.

Both sports will still be part of the 2008 Beijing Games. Softball made its debut at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The IOC will decide on the programme for the 2016 Games at its 2009 session in Denmark.

Brawn to part company with Ferrari

Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn will leave the team at the end of the month, the Italian F1 outfit said. He will be replaced by Mario Almondo, with Stefano Domenicali taking on the role of sporting director.

Chief executive Jean Todt will become interim managing director. Ferrari said Brawn was cutting his ties with the team to devote more time to his personal life. Engine director Paolo Martinelli is also leaving to take a position with parent company FIAT.

"Ferrari offers its heartfelt thanks to Ross Brawn and Paolo Martinelli for their immense contribution in the drafting of an extraordinary chapter in the history of the Scuderia and motor sport," the team said.

Lomu rejects rugby league

Former All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu has rejected an offer to play rugby league in Australia next season, saying he wants to stick with rugby union.

The former New Zealand rugby union international had been offered a one-year contract with the National Rugby League's (NRL) Gold Coast Titans but told the new franchise yesterday he had decided against switching codes.

Lomu, who was once the most feared player in rugby union before being struck down by a debilitating kidney illness, had considered switching codes after conceding his dream of playing for the All Blacks at next year's World Cup was over.

The 31-year-old had launched a comeback in 2005 in the hope of regaining his place in the team but accepted his chances were finished when he failed to win a contract with any of New Zealand's five teams for the 2007 Super 14 season.

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