FIGURE SKATING : Meno, Sand Forced to Withdraw From Two Internationals

Jenni Meno and Todd Sand, considered the United States’ best hopes for an Olympic figure skating medal in pairs, have withdrawn from the only two international competitions they had scheduled before January’s national championships.

Their coach, John Nicks of Costa Mesa’s Ice Capades Chalet, said Tuesday he has informed officials from Skate America and Piruetten that the pair cannot compete because of recurring back pains that will prevent Sand from skating at full speed for at least three weeks.

Meno and Sand, fifth in the world in their first season together last winter, planned to open their season in Skate America, which begins tonight at Reunion Arena, then travel next week to Norway for the Piruetten, which will be contested on the same ice that will be used for the Feb. 12-27 Winter Olympics.

Nicks said he has asked the U.S. Figure Skating Assn. to search for another international competition for Meno and Sand before the end of the year but acknowledged it will difficult because all of the berths are filled.

“I think it’s fairly important that they get the type of competitive experience that they need before the nationals,” Nicks said. “But, fortunately, they were ahead of schedule, so I think they will be fine.”

In the absence of an international competition, Nicks said that they will place more emphasis on the AT&T; Pro-Am in December at Philadelphia.

Without Meno and Sand here, Russians Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, third in world last year, are heavily favored in pairs.

Featured in other competitions this week are the two most recent men’s Olympic gold medalists, the United States’ Brian Boitano and the Ukraine’s Viktor Petrenko, and the top two women in this year’s World Championships, 16-year-old champion Oksana Baiul of the Ukraine and runner-up Surya Bonaly of France.