Latvia's Minins out of bobsled four-man field

Latvia's Janis Minins in action during the Lake Placid World Cup stop last November.

WHISTLER, British Columbia (AP) - Latvia's Janis Minins has withdrawn from the four-man Olympic bobsled competition because two of his pushmen are injured.

Minins, who had to miss the two-man event because of an appendectomy, crashed twice during practice. One of his crew sustained a concussion, and the other bruised his leg and elbows.

Minins won the four-man event on the Whistler Sliding Center track last year.

Latvia is the fourth team to drop from the field, joining Australia, Liechtenstein and the Netherlands. The two-day event begins on Friday.