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Stars skipping world meet
Lipinski had two molars extracted Monday after she complained of swollen glands and her doctor discovered an infection. She's been put on antibiotics and might be tested for mononucleosis if her condition does not improve.
"We realized we wanted to be 100 per cent and not hurting," Lipinski said in Warren, Mich., in announcing she would not go to Minneapolis. "I think I've fulfilled everything I really, really needed to.
"It's nice to leave it like this, with that kind of performance."
Lipinski edged fellow-American Michelle Kwan for gold in Nagano, Japan, last month.
Kwan, the 1996 world champion who was second to Lipinski at the worlds last March in Lausanne, Switzerland, becomes the favorite to win in Minneapolis.
Olympic bronze medallist Lu Chen of China and popular French skater Surya Bonaly also have informed organizers they will not be in Minneapolis.
Canadian champion Angelie Derochie of Ottawa is scheduled to compete.
Three-time world champion Elvis Stojko of Richmond Hill, Ont., continues to ease back into a practice schedule after winning silver in Nagano despite a strained groin muscle.
Olympic champion Ilia Kulik is scheduled to compete in Minneapolis, but bronze medallist Philippe Candeloro is not. His absence will bolster the medal hopes of young Russian hotshot Alexei Yagudin, whose Olympic effort was hampered by a flu.
Jeffrey Langdon of Barrie, Ont., and Emanuel Sandhu of Richmond Hill, Ont., will be Canada's other skaters.
Olympic ice dance champions Pasha Grishuk and Evgeny Platov won't defend their world title, meaning Russian teammates Angelika Krylova and Oleg Ovsyannikov, who won silver in Nagano, will be the favorites to win gold in Minneapolis.
Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat of France were third in Nagano and will look to move up a notch next month.
Shae-Lynn Bourne of Chatham, Ont., and Victor Kraatz of Vancouver, who were fourth in Nagano, should be on the podium in Minneapolis.
Also representing Canada will be Chantal Lefebvre of LaSalle, Que., and Michel Brunet of Gatineau, Que.
In pairs, all the top-rated competitors, including Olympic champions Oksana Kazakova and Artur Dmitriev, have confirmed they will be at worlds.
National champions Kristy Sargeant of Alix, Alta., and Kris Wirtz of Marathon, Ont., will represent Canada, as will Marie-Claude Savard-Gagnon and Luc Bradet of Baie-St-Paul, Que.
CTV plans afternoon and evening feeds most days.