Manaudou sacked by swimming team

Manaudou is one of France's big hopes for next year's Olympics

World and Olympic 400m freestyle champion Laure Manaudou has been sacked by her Italian club.

The club did not reveal the reasons for her dismissal, which came after last weekend's Paris Open meet.

The team said she could return, but must first apologise to her coach Paolo Penso and the French national team.

French newspaper L'Equipe quoted Penso as criticising her performance and commitment and it added she would now be coached by her brother.

"There's one chance in a million for Laure to understand and come back," club president Marco Durante said in a statement.

Manaudou, whose boyfriend is an Italian swimmer, split with French coach Philippe Lucas in May and moved to Turin.

The 20-year-old won the 400m freestyle at the 2004 Olympics and won five medals at the World Championships in Melbourne earlier this year, including gold in the 200m and 400m freestyle.

Last year she broke Janet Evans' 18-year-old 400m freestyle world record.