Sasha Cohen withdraws from 2009 Cancer.Net Skate America

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 6, 2009) - Sasha Cohen, the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, three-time World medalist and six-time U.S. medalist, announced today she will not compete at 2009 Cancer.Net Skate America because of an injury. She will be replaced by 2007 U.S. silver medalist Emily Hughes.

"I have been battling this injury for a while," Cohen said. "After meeting with my orthopedic surgeon, it was determined that in order for me to fully recover, I should not compete this week."

Cohen withdrew from her first Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series assignment, Trophée Eric Bompard, in early October after being diagnosed with tendonitis in her right calf.

"I'm very disappointed I won't be able to compete in Lake Placid," Cohen said. "I've been going to physical therapy and training with every intention of being healthy and ready for this competition."

Cohen says she will continue her physical therapy and training, with the goal of competing at the 2010 AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Spokane, Wash, Jan. 14-24, 2010.

Cohen announced in May her intention to return to competitive skating following a three-year absence. Her last competition was the 2006 World Figure Skating Championships in Calgary, Canada, where she won the bronze.

Cohen has been training in Lake Arrowhead, Calif., under the direction of Rafael Arutunian, a former coach of two-time Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan.

Hughes, who finished seventh at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, last competed at Skate America in 2007, when she finished fourth.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to compete for the fourth time at Skate America," said Hughes. "It is especially exciting to be representing the United States in my home state of New York and at such an historic Olympic setting as Lake Placid."

- About U.S. Figure Skating -

U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union. U.S. Figure Skating is comprised of more than 700 member clubs, collegiate clubs, and school-affiliated clubs and more than 900 registered Basic Skills skating schools representing approximately 170,000 members. U.S. Figure Skating is charged with the development of the sport on all levels within the United States  including athletes, officials, sanctioning of events and exhibitions, and establishing the rules and guidelines by which the sport is governed.