Harding’s Lawyers Back in Court : Skating: They try to obtain injunction that would allow her to be in World Championships.

Seeking a repeat of their legal victory that enabled figure skater Tonya Harding to compete in the Winter Olympics, her lawyers returned to court Monday in an attempt to assure her a berth in this month’s World Championships.

They filed papers in Oregon’s Multnomah County Circuit Court, requesting a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that would prevent the U.S. Figure Skating Assn. from taking action against Harding that would force her withdrawal from the March 22-27 competition in Chiba, Japan.

USFSA lawyers countered by having the action transferred to U.S. District Court in Portland, Ore. U.S. District Judge Owen Panner scheduled a hearing for 2 p.m. today.

The move was made by Harding’s lawyers three days before a five-member USFSA panel is scheduled to begin a disciplinary hearing in Colorado Springs, Colo., regarding Harding’s role in the Jan. 6 assault on rival Nancy Kerrigan.

Harding was asked to appear before the panel to respond to its determination after a hearing last month that there were reasonable grounds to believe she was involved in plotting the attack. She was given 33 days to organize her defense, but her lawyers said in the motion filed Monday that she has not had enough time because of the 20 days spent in preparation for the Olympics and other legal matters.

They also said that participating in the hearing would “irreparably compromise” her rights to fairness and due process in the ongoing criminal investigation. A grand jury is expected to decide by March 21 whether to indict Harding.

Similar tactics by Harding’s lawyers last month were successful in assuring her entry into the Winter Olympics. After they filed a $25-million lawsuit, the U.S. Olympic Committee canceled a hearing to decide whether Harding could compete in return for her withdrawal of the legal action. She finished eighth.

If the USFSA hearing panel is allowed to convene and confirms its earlier findings, Harding’s USFSA membership, required for her to compete in national and international championship events, could be revoked.

Substituting for her in Chiba would be second-alternate Nicole Bobek, 16, of Colorado Springs. The first alternate, Michelle Kwan, 13, of Torrance, will replace Kerrigan, who has decided not to compete in Japan. USFSA President Claire Ferguson confirmed Monday that Kerrigan, the Olympic silver medalist, has withdrawn from the World Championships and also from the Hershey’s Kisses Pro-Am at the Sports Arena on April 7-8.

Skating Note

Brian Boitano, who finished sixth in the Olympics, will announce this week that he is withdrawing from the World Championships because of recurring back and groin injuries, sources said Monday. His place will be taken by Aren Nielsen, the third-place finisher in the U.S. championships.