06.03 Russian Champion Skater Sotnikova Downgraded for World Champs

MOSCOW, March 6 (R-Sport) – Sochi Olympic figure skating gold medalist Adelina Sotnikova has been relegated to a reserve for Russia in this month's world championships, according to the International Skating Union.

The 17-year-old, who beat South Korea's reigning champion Kim Yuna with a lifetime best performance last month, had been nominated to represent Russia for the championships along with 15-year-old European champion Julia Lipnitskaia.

But now, a list of competitors on the ISU's website shows Russia's two entrants for the March 24-30 event in Saitama, Japan, to be Lipnitskaia and Anna Pogorilaya, who is also 15 years of age and whose best result is victory in the 2013 Cup of China Grand Prix.

Sotnikova is listed as a substitute.

The general director of the Russian Figure Skating Federation, Valentin Piseyev, insisted Sotnikova could still appear, however.

"This is just a provisional squad," Piseyev told R-Sport. "We don't rule out the participation of Sotnikova at the world championships; a decision will be taken on March 10, when she returns from the tour," he added.