Carolina Kostner returning to competition Jan. 15

MILAN (AP) Olympic bronze medalist Carolina Kostner is planning her return to competition at a sanctioned invitational in Japan next month, just weeks after her suspension comes to an end.

The International Skating Union listed Kostner among the competitors for the Medal Winners Open figure skating competition Jan. 15 in Osaka, Japan. The event is organized by the Japan Skating Federation and sanctioned by the ISU, which will allow Kostner to win points in a bid for eligibility for the world figure skating championships in Boston in March.

The Italian figure skater is eligible to return to competition on Jan. 1 after serving a suspension for helping her ex-boyfriend evade doping controls, and was cleared to begin training Nov. 1. The 28-year-old Kostner has said she hopes to compete in another Olympics.