Sex and alcohol scandals mar U.S. preparations
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-13 11:16

On Thursday, the overall World Cup champion told a news conference in Wengen, Switzerland: "Obviously the message which came through is not something which I would like to promote."

The U.S. Olympic Committee would like nothing more than to stay clear of any more problems before the Games, which begin on February 10.

However, the decision involving Kwan is likely to create another firestorm of controversy.

If she makes the team, some will say she deprived a more deserving skater of the chance for Olympic gold. If she does not, some will say that as a five-times world champion she should have been given a final chance to climb the top step of the Olympic podium.

When Nancy Kerrigan was injured in 1994 during an attack in practice, she was given a pass right through to the Olympic team.

A 13-year-old skater nailed four triple jumps to finished second but was bumped from the Lillehammer Olympics by Kerrigan. That skater was Michelle Kwan.

"It is sort of ironic that the last person bumped off the team was me in 1994," said Kwan. "But they do have a rule for special circumstances."