COLOGNE: Stefen Effenberg's international comeback lasted 18 days.After Bayern Munich's 5-3 win over Hamburg, Effenberg, 30, stunned his collegues and confirmed yesterday he would not play for Germany again, less than three weeks after he had resumed his career in the national team.Effenberg denied that his decision had anything to do with Berti Vogt's replacement as German coach by Erich Ribbeck. He insisted club duties at Bayern and his young family are more important to him than playing for his country.

Ronaldo, Juventus honoured

MILAN: Tributes and trophies were showered on Ronaldo and Juventus here as the two rivals swept the board at the Italian soccer oscars. Ronaldo was voted `Player of the Year' by members of the Italian footballers' union and was also named best foreign player at the ceremony last night.

Juventus were voted best team, with the reigning champions picking up three further prizes for Alessandro del Piero as best Italian player,Marcello Lippi as Best coach and Angelo Peruzzi as Best Goalkeeper. Ronaldo said: ``It's really moving to have won the Award, it's perhaps the most important one I have ever had because it comes from the players, and from a championship as difficult as the Italian one."

Johnson's appeal dismissed

TORONTO: Ontario's appeal court today threw out former Canadian sprint star Ben Johnson's appeal against a life ban imposed in 1993 by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF).

Johnson was banned after twice testing positive for drugs -- in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul and then five years later in an athletics championships in Montreal. In Seoul the Canadian set a new World Record when winning the 100 metres gold, but he had to return the medal in disgrace three days later after a dope test picked up traces of anabolic steroids. Initially thrown off the track for two years Johnson's ban was extended to life by the IAAF after the Montreal violation, when he tested positive for testosterone.