Samaranch gets US all-clear

IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch has received assurances that he will not be arrested when he arrives in the United States next week to face a congressional hearing into the Salt Lake City scandal. Both former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Senate Majority leader Howard Baker are believed to have cleared the way with the US Justice Department for Samaranch's visit to Washington. Six IOC members, including Jean-Claude Killy, senior vice-president Dick Pound and Anita De Franz have already been questioned about the affair.

Meanwhile, sporting goods giant Reebok International has terminated its $10 million Olympic sponsorship deal with the Sydney Olympic organising committee (SOCOG).

Reebok said it had started legal proceedings against SOCOG because the organising committee had entered into contracts with its competitors.

Earlier in the day SOCOG parted company with its marketing manager, Paul Reading, who bore much of the blame for a recent ticketing debacle.

Tennis: John Newcombe has defended the behaviour of his Australian team celebrating their Davis Cup triumph over France in a topless bar in Nice.

Mark Philippoussis was pictured in Australian newspapers dancing with a topless dancer just hours after a 3-2 triumph over France. Newcombe said when team members arrived at Nice's leading nightclub, the French players had their tops off and the Aussies just joined in.

Newcombe said the media may be banned from future post-match celebrations. "I think that from now on we're going to have to shut the media out of any parties afterwards because that type of negativity comes out of it," he said.

Camogie: Former Tipperary hurling All Star Michael Cleary has been named coach to the county senior camogie team for their defence of their All-Ireland title next year.

The Nenagh man assisted in the preparation of the Tipperary team which defeated Kilkenny in the All-Ireland in September, but he now takes full responsibility. This year's coach, Biddy Phillips will continue as a selector.