This year's figure skating Grand Prix Final will feature only five competitors in the men's event after a series of withdrawals, the Japan Skating Federation said Wednesday.
The field was cut from six after world bronze medalist Even Lysacek, runnerup at the NHK Trophy in Osaka earlier this month, pulled out due to hip pain.
His replacement, Brian Joubert of France, was also forced to withdraw through injury. A second replacement, three-time world champion Evgeni Plushenko, is suffering from the flu and will also sit out the upcoming event to be held at Yoyogi national gymnasium in Tokyo on Friday and Saturday.