Short track speed skating powerhouses South Korea and China, plus the top female skater from Canada, are not registered for next month’s world championships.
South Korea’s federation announced in late January that it would not participate at worlds, which are March 5-7 in Dordrecht, Netherlands.
Dutch media also reported that China and Japan both withdrew their registrations. Neither nation is on the current entry list.
Then on Tuesday, Canadian Kim Boutin announced she would miss worlds, prioritizing preparation for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
South Korea is the most successful nation in Olympic short track history, since it debuted as a medal sport at the 1992 Albertville Games.