THE SIDELINES : Tomba Gets OK to Resume Skiing

Italy’s No. 1 skier Alberto Tomba, who has been out with a fractured collarbone, was given medical clearance today and could return to the slopes in the World Cup slalom Sunday in Kitzbuehel, Austria.

Tomba, a slalom specialist, was hurt in a spill during a super-giant slalom race in Val d’Isere last month.

Tomba has not said if he will continue to compete in Super-G races, a combination of downhill speed and giant slalom technique.

The 23-year-old skier, who won one slalom race this season before being sidelined, is 15th in the World Cup overall standings with 46 points. Leader Pirmin Zurbriggen of Switzerland has 166 points.