Soviet sports authorities had planned to send hockey star Vyacheslav Fetisov to the United States to try to persuade teammate Alexander Mogilny to return after defecting, a Soviet newspaper reported.
The daily Stroitelnaya Gazeta said the trip was canceled at the last minute because of travel problems.
Mogilny, 20, a center for the Soviet national team, defected after the Soviets won the world championships last month in Stockholm. He has signed a contract with the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.
