Pairs Team Withdraws from Cup of China

From U.S. Figure Skating :

U.S. pairs team Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski have withdrawn from the upcoming Cup of China. The event, taking place Nov. 6-9 at the Beijing Capital Gymnasium in Beijing, China, is the third of six competitions in the International Skating Union's (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series.

Castile fell during practice last week while attempting a triple split twist, suffering a severe contusion to her right heel.

"Though (her injury) has greatly improved, she can not yet skate on it without severe pain," said her physician, Stephen I. Goldman, of the Novi Center for Manipulative and Sports Medicine.

Johnny Johns, the team's longtime coach, believes the decision to withdraw from the competition is the right one.

"I felt it was in the best interest of Brooke's recovery, and the best interest of the team, to pull her off the ice for the remainder of this week, to give her foot more time to heal," Johns said. "We are hoping with rest and therapy she will be ready to go for Russia."

Castile and Okolski are scheduled to compete Nov. 20-23 at the Cup of Russia in Moscow