Chemmy Alcott Dancing on Ice a risk, says ski boss

Chemmy Alcott's decision to take part in Dancing on Ice is an acceptable risk as she recovers from a serious ankle injury, ski boss Dave Edwards believes.

"Ice dancing will no doubt present a risk to her recovery," said the British Ski and Snowboard chief executive. "But surely no greater than a downhill?"

Alcott suffered a compound fracture of her right leg in December 2010 and is yet to return to snow training.

However, the 28-year-old skier insists that she is not retiring from racing.

Alcott, self-funded after losing her UK Sport funding, believes that she can return to the top of the sport and compete in her fourth Winter Olympics, at Sochi in Russia in 2014.

"Two weeks ago I got a ski boot fitted for my new leg," she said. "And, by March, I will be back on snow."

But, before then, she is taking time out of her ski rehabilitation to compete in the ice dance entertainment show, which starts on Sunday.

"Chemmy has handled her own rehab from day one," Edwards told BBC Sport. "And she has applied herself to the rehab programme with her typical energy and vigour.

"She has suffered some disappointing setbacks but I believe that she is now in the final stages of non-snow-based activity.

"I personally wish her very well with the programme and expect her to apply herself to it with the same level of competitiveness and enthusiasm that she demonstrates in everything else."