Harding coming back?

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Tonya Harding is devoting herself to skating again and might apply for reinstatement with the U.S. Figure Skating Association, possibly by next month.

Her new publicist, David Hans Schmidt of Phoenix, would not confirm or deny that Harding will petition the USFSA to have her lifetime ban lifted, or at least shortened. There has been speculation for weeks she will do so.

"Tonya is in the best shape she's ever been in," Schmidt said. "She's five pounds less than when she won U.S. national in 1991. She's practicing two to three hours a day, seven days a week. She's just more serious about skating than she's ever been."

He said Harding will hold a news conference in early April to announce "her intentions for the future in figure skating."

"We're going to unveil Tonya II," Schmidt said. "It's a whole new Tonya. And it's the right time."

Harding, 25, was stripped of her national title and banned for life by the USFSA for her role in the attack on Nancy Kerrigan at the 1994 U.S. championships.

"We'll deal with it if and when it comes up," said USFSA President Morry Stillwell.

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