Russia's figure skating federation says Olympic champion Adelina Sotnikova has delayed her return to major competition due to injury.
Sotnikova was due to skate for her home crowd at next week's Cup of Russia Grand Prix in Moscow, but has been replaced on the entry list by little-known 17-year-old Maria Stavitskaya.
Federation president Alexander Gorshkov said Sotnikova "will miss the competition because of an injury," without giving details. She had previously complained of an ankle problem.
The event would have been Sotnikova's first major competition since beating South Korea's Kim Yuna to Olympic gold in February.
Her only competitive skate this season came last week, when she won a minor Russian event against mostly junior opposition. She is due to compete at the NHK Trophy Grand Prix on Nov. 28-30.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
