OSAKA, Japan (AP) Olympic bronze medalist Carolina Kostner made a return to competitive skating on Friday, finishing second in an invitational event in Japan.
Kostner had 59.69 points in the women's singles program to finish 12 points behind Joannie Rochette of Canada.
The Italian figure skater was eligible to return to competition on Jan. 1 after serving a suspension for helping her ex-boyfriend evade doping controls.
The Medal Winners Open figure skating competition was organized by the Japan Skating Federation and sanctioned by the International Skating Union, and allows Kostner to earn points in a bid for eligibility for the world figure skating championships at Boston in March.
The 28-year-old Kostner has said she hopes to compete in another Olympics.
