Olympic champ Sotnikova to skip world figure skating championships

Olympic champion Adelina Sotnikova will not compete at next month's world figure skating championships.

The Russian skater's coach, Elena Buyanova, says Sotnikova will take off the rest of the season, but she did not say why.

Sotnikova has not competed at any international competitions since the Olympics and tore an ankle ligament in November. Russian skaters still swept the medals at last month's European championships, making competition difficult for a spot in the team at the worlds.

None of the Olympic women's medalists will compete at the worlds in Shanghai. Silver medalist Yuna Kim of South Korea has retired, while bronze medalist Carolina Kostner of Italy is serving a ban for a doping-related offense.