Bruno Senna, the nephew of former triple world champion Ayrton, underwent his first full day of Formula One testing and hoped he had done enough to win a seat with Honda for the 2009 season.

Senna was eighth fastest at Barcelona, almost 2.5secs off the pace set by Red Bull`s Sebastien Vettel, with fellow Honda driver Jenson Button fifth fastest.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp sacked the club`s goalkeeping coach Hans Leitert on Wednesday after a series of costly mistakes by Heurelho Gomes.

Brazil keeper Gomes has made several high-profile errors since his pre-season move from PSV Eindhoven and Saturday`s latest gaffe in Tottenham`s 2-1 defeat at Fulham proved the final straw for Redknapp.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp sacked the club`s goalkeeping coach Hans Leitert on Wednesday after a series of costly mistakes by Heurelho Gomes.

Brazil keeper Gomes has made several high-profile errors since his pre-season move from PSV Eindhoven and Saturday`s latest gaffe in Tottenham`s 2-1 defeat at Fulham proved the final straw for Redknapp.

Injured Bayern Munich defender Lucio has pulled out of Brazil`s squad to face Portugal in a friendly international on Wednesday, the Brazilian football federation (CBF) said.

However the CBF did not mention any replacement for the match in Brasilia.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 17, 2007 (AFP) - Judo queen Ryoko Tani marked her comeback from maternity leave by claiming her seventh world gold as she sparked a revival which saw Japan finish top of the medals table on the final day of the world championships here on Sunday night.

Tani's comeback after having a baby had stirred controversy, as she was selected for the world championships despite losing in the national trials.

The 32-year-old Japanese icon had been struggling to find time for training while rearing her son Yoshiaki.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 17, 2007 (AFP) - Results from the final day of the world judo championships here on Sunday:

Women

-48 kg

Semi-finals:

Ryoko Tani (Japan) bt Alina Dumitru (ROM) by waza-ari

Yanet Bermoy (CUB) bt Paula Paretto (Argentina) koka

Final:

Ryoko Tani (Japan) bt Yanet Bermoy (CUB) yuko

Bronze medal playoffs:

Alina Dumitru (ROM) bt Young-Ran (Korea) ippon

Frederique Jossinet (France) bt Paula Paretto (Argentina) ippon

Open class (non Olympic)

Semi-finals:

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 17, 2007 (AFP) - Medals table after the final day of the World Judo Championships here on Sunday (gold, silver, bronze, total):

Japan 3 2 4 9

Brazil 3 0 1 4

France 2 2 4 8

Cuba 2 2 1 5

China 2 0 0 2

Georgia 1 1 1 3

Netherlands 1 0 3 4

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 17, 2007 (AFP) - Podiums after the final day of the World Judo Championships here on Sunday:

Women

-48kg

1. Ryoko Tani (Japan)

2. Yanet Bermoy (CUB)

3. Frederique Jossinet (France)

3. Alina Dumitru (ROM)

-52 kg

1. Junjie Shi (China)

2. Telma Monteiro (Portugal)

3. Kum Ae An (North Korea)

3. Yuka Nishida (Japan)

-57 kg

1. Sun Hui (North Korea)

2. Isabel Fernandez (Spain)

3. Aiko Sato (Japan)

3. Bernadett Baczko (HUN)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 17, 2007 (AFP) - Results from the final day of the world judo championships here on Sunday:

Women

-48 kg

Semi-finals:

Ryoko Tani (Japan) bt Alina Dumitru (ROM) by waza-ari

Yanet Bermoy (CUB) bt Paula Paretto (Argentina) koka

Final:

Ryoko Tani (Japan) bt Yanet Bermoy (CUB) yuko

Bronze medal playoffs:

Alina Dumitru (ROM) bt Young-Ran (Korea) ippon

Frederique Jossinet (France) bt Paula Paretto (Argentina) ippon

All categories (non Olympic)

Semi-finals:

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 16, 2007 (AFP) - Table toppers France were among the nations left on the medals scrapheap as three Asians, and yet another Brazilian grabbed gold at the world judo championships Saturday.

On the third day of competition France were left in the shade as their four entrants failed to get past the quarter-finals - thus failing to gain direct entry to next year's Olympic Games.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 16, 2007 (AFP) - Results from the third day of the world judo championships here on Saturday:

Women

-52 kg

Semi-finals:

Telma Monteiro (Portugal) bt Erika Miranda (BRA) waza-ari

Junjie Shi (China) bt Kum Ae An (North Korea) on decision after sudden death

Final:

Junjie Shi (China) bt Telma Monteiro (Portugal) yuko

Bronze medal matches:

Kum Ae An (North Korea) bt Kyung Ok Kim (Korea) waza-ari

Yuka Nishida (Japan) bt Erika Miranda (BRA) ippon

-57 kg

Semi-finals:

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 15, 2007 (AFP) - A jubilant France team once again found itself among the medal winners as Cuba, Brazil and Georgia grabbed their share of gold on the second day of the world judo championships here Friday:

France woke up Saturday to discover a new king of the tatami following the stunning victory of teenager Teddy Riner over Russia's Tamerlan Tmenov in the final of the men's prestigious +100 kg.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 14, 2007 (AFP) - Rising star Teddy Riner of France on Thursday became the youngest ever world heavyweight champion when he claimed the +100kg gold at the world judo championships here.

The powerful and athletic 18-year-old from the French Caribbean territory of Guadeloupe beat Russia's Tamerlan Tmenov by waza-ari in the final to end France's decade-long drought in the +100 kg category.

The last Frenchman to hold the title was double Olympic champion David Douillet, who gave the teenager valuable pointers on his way to victory.

STUTTGART, Germany, Sept 8, 2007 (AFP) - Diego Hypolito gave Brazil their second medal in as many days when he reclaimed his world floor title at the world gymnastics championships here on Saturday.

Jade Barbosa won her country's first all-around medal when she shared bronze with Italy's Vanessa Ferrari on Friday night, and the 16-year-old could cap a best-ever showing by Brazil when she competes in Sunday's vault and beam final.

BERLIN, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - Hertha Berlin face a race against time to have injured Brazilian midfielder Gilberto fit for the start of the new Bundesliga season, the club announced on Thursday.

The German side are without the 31-year-old for their first round German Cup tie against minnows Unterhaching on August 4 after he picked up a thigh injury in Brazil`s 3-0 win over Argentina in the Copa America final on July 15.

SAO PAOLO, July 25, 2007 (AFP) - Brazilian club Botafogo`s star striker Dodo on Wednesday was suspended for four months after a health product the player was taking contained a banned substance.

Dodo`s lawyer pleaded unintentional doping which allegedly occurred after the player took a caffeine lozenge contaminated by a banned substance.

Dodo, who is second leading goal scorer in the Brazilian league, controlled positive following his club`s 4-0 win over league rivals Vasco de Gama on June 14.

ROME, July 24, 2007 (AFP) - AC Milan`s Brazilian star Kaka pledged his future to the European champions on Tuesday.

The talented playmaker, who was inpsirational in Milan`s Champions League triumph last summer, is said to be top of Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon`s wanted list.

Calderon was reportedly ready to break the bank to land Kaka, but although tempted to swap Italy for Spain, the 25-year-old Brazil international insisted he is very happy at Milan.