Athletics - Gebrselassie to return to Berlin Marathon

Berlin Marathon organizers say Haile Gebrselassie will run in this year's race on 25 September, returning to the course where the Ethiopian twice set the world record. Gebrselassie won the Berlin Marathon four straight years starting in 2006 and broke the world record in 2007 and 20008, when he ran 2 hours, 3 minutes, 59 seconds. That mark still stands. Gebrselassie says "the course is extremely fast" and that "everything is possible on a good day." Geoffrey Mutai ran 2:03:02 to win the Boston Marathon in April. The international governing body disqualifies the Boston course from records because it is too straight and too downhill.

Olympics - Ishihara wants Tokyo to bid for 2020 Olympics

Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara says he wants the Japanese capital to bid for the 2020 Olympics. Ishihara said in a speech yesterday at a regular session of the Tokyo metropolitan assembly: "I want this to be considered. I hope Japan will be united in this effort." Ishihara was the driving force behind Tokyo's failed bid to host the 2016 Games. National Olympic committees have until 1 September to submit bids for the 2020 Games. So far, only Rome has formally announced it will bid. Ishihara said a bid by Tokyo could go a long way toward helping Japan rebuild from the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March.

Sailing - China's new Volvo Ocean Race team hires Sanderson

China launched Team Sanya as its 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race entry yesterday, with veteran sailor Mike Sanderson at its helm. The 40-year-old from New Zealand is a two-time winner of the race, which this year starts in October at Alicante, Spain, and will cover just under 40,000 nautical miles before finishing the following July at Galway, Ireland. A joint Chinese-Irish entry, Green Dragon, contested the a previous edition of the 38-year-old race for monohulls in 2008-2009, but Team Sanya is chiefly backed by the Chinese government.

Cycling - UCI bans drug cheats from team management

Cycling's governing body has barred cyclists caught doping from working for a team in the sport after their racing careers. The new rule was announced yesterday and will take effect next month, but it won't be applied retroactively, said the International Cycling Union management committee. The rule stipulates that riders found guilty of infringing anti-doping rules can't be granted a licence authorizing them "to take on a role in cycling as a member of a team's staff." "The UCI Management Committee is fully aware of the difficulties that the adoption of such a measure could imply, but wishes to once again reconfirm its determination to take all steps possible to oppose any form of illegal practice in our sport," the UCI said in a statement at the end of its two-day meeting. The rule will not affect the likes of Bjarne Riis, who admitted to doping during his 1996 Tour de France victory and now runs the Saxo Bank-Sungard team which includes reigning Tour champ Alberto Contador.

Football - Malaga sign Dutch defender Mathijsen and Toulalan

Spanish club Malaga have reinforced their defence with Dutch international Joris Mathijsen. Malaga announced late on Thursday they have reached a transfer deal with German club Hamburg for the defender. The club said Mathijsen has signed a contract for two years. Mathijsen joins Spain defender Nacho Monreal and former Hamburg striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who have also signed with the Andalusian team this summer. Malaga said on its website that France and Lyon midfielder Jeremy Toulalan will also put pen to paper for a four-year contract in the coming days and will be officially presented this month.

Football - UEFA wants FIFA reforms in 3 months after crisis

UEFA is urging FIFA to implement reforms within three months to deal with world football's worst corruption crisis. FIFA executive committee members Mohamed bin Hammam and Jack Warner are currently suspended over allegations of bribery during the presidential election. After Sepp Blatter was re-elected unopposed following Bin Hammam's withdrawal, the Swiss began his fourth term by pledging a new "zero-tolerance" approach. A statement from UEFA's executive committee yesterday said it "takes good note of the will of FIFA to take concrete and efficient measures with regards to good governance." The statement added that UEFA "expects to see results within the next three months and is following the situation closely."

Rally - Norway's Solberg takes lead in Acropolis

Norway's Petter Solberg was in the lead after the first day of the Acropolis Rally yesterday, with Citroen teammate and seven-time champion Sebastien Loeb lying 51.6 seconds behind in second place. Ford driver Mikko Hirvonen was third, 55.3 seconds behind the leader. Solberg won four of the day's six stages, while Loeb took the final stage. The Greek rally, which ends tomorrow, is the seventh of the 13-race World Rally Championship season.

Football - Werder Bremen sign defender Schmitz

Werder Bremen's general manager Klaus Allofs says the club has signed defender Lukas Schmitz from Bundesliga rivals Schalke. The 22-year-old left back signed a four-year contract. Werder's defence struggled last season, when the club finished 13th in the German league.