SESTRIERE, Italy (AP) Decorated Swiss ski veteran Sonja Nef announced Tuesday that she is retiring from competition after 12 seasons on the World Cup circuit because of poor health. Nef, 33, last raced in January and wasn't on the Swiss Olympic team. She intended to quit at the end of the World Cup season, but a hip problem that may require surgery prompted her to stop early. "I would have preferred to finish my career on skis," Nef said. "Unfortunately, once again, I'm plagued by health problems." Nef decided to announce her retirement at the site of her first World Cup victory, 10 years ago. Though Nef won two giant slaloms toward the end of the 2004-05 World Cup season, she could manage no better than 12th this season. Nef has a history of serious knee injuries.
