Last year, it was his back injury.
This year, it is her wisdom tooth.
The result is the same: Ice dancer Tanith Belbin and her partner, native Chicagoan Ben Agosto, are out of the Grand Prix Final in figure skating.
And could they miss the U.S. Championships Jan. 22-24 as well? That seems unlikely.
Under U.S. Figure Skating rules, the five-time national champions still could -- and would -- be selected for the 2010 Olympic team even if they miss the U.S. Championships.
Agosto's injury kept them from competing at nationals a year ago, but they still were selected for the world team and wound up with a silver medal at the world championships. They also won silver at the 2006 Olympics.
The couple withdrew from next week's GP Final in Tokyo after Belbin needed surgery Tuesday for an infected wisdom tooth. According to a USFS statement, Belbin's oral surgeon advised her to avoid strenuous activity for at least a week.
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