Ukraine’s Baiul to Skip World Championships

Oksana Baiul, the Olympic and world champion, will not compete in figure skating’s World Championships next week in Japan.

Baiul’s withdrawal leaves the women’s singles competition without its top two stars. Nancy Kerrigan earlier announced she is too tired to compete again so soon.

Organizers gave no reason for Baiul’s withdrawal, but she had complained of back pain and pain in her lower leg after a collision during practice at the Olympics.

The Ukrainian team will replace the 16-year-old Baiul with Inna Vayets.

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Bonnie Blair, the gold medalist in the 500 meters at the Winter Olympics, finished third at that distance in the second day of a World Cup speedskating competition at Inzell, Germany.

Blair swept to an easy victory in the first 500 meters on Saturday. But in Sunday’s race she was edged by Monique Garbrecht and Franziska Schenk, both of Germany. “Some things you can’t explain,” Blair said. “But you can’t always stay in top form.”

On soft ice warmed by the sun, Garbrecht skated in 40.21 seconds to edge Schenk, the Olympic bronze medalist, who clocked 40.33. Blair finished at 40.35, well off Saturday’s time of 39.72.

Olympic gold medalist Emese Hunyady of Austria won the 1,500.

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In men’s speedskating at Goteborg, Sweden, triple Olympic champion Johann Olav Koss of Norway capped a dream season by winning the World All-Around Championships. He won both the 1,500 and 10,000 meters on the second day of competition. . . . Tommy Moe of Palmer, Alaska, notched his first World Cup victory when he won the super giant slalom at Whistler, Canada, in 1:31.22. Marc Girardelli of Luxembourg was second in 1:31.93.

Women’s Basketball

UCLA’s Natalie Williams was selected as the Pac-10 women’s player of the year by conference coaches.

USC’s Lisa Leslie and Nicky McCrimmon also made the 10-player all-Pac-10 team, with the Trojan’s Tina Thompson being voted freshman of the year. Oregon’s Jody Runge was chosen coach of the year.

Miscellany

Advised by his attorney, Michigan guard Jalen Rose has declined to answer questions from U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents about his voice being picked up on wiretaps during an investigation into a drug ring, the Detroit News reported.

Tonya Harding has moved out of the Beaverton, Ore., apartment where she had been staying since separating from ex-husband Jeff Gillooly. Harding moved in with Stephanie and John Quintero shortly after she announced her split with Gillooly on Jan. 18.

Martin Buser, the 1992 champion, was leading a crowded pack of veteran mushers as the leaders in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race made their way toward the Bering Sea Coast. Buser was first out of Kaltag, a Yukon River community, and was 1 1/2 hours ahead of defending champion Jeff King.

Ekaterina Podkopayeva, 41, of Russia became the oldest winner ever in the European Indoor Track Championships, winning the 1,500 with a career-best 4:06.46 at Paris.