WINTER OLYMPICS / NOTEBOOK

The U.S. bobsled team, which has not competed internationally since early December and had been conducting trials and training in Calgary since Jan. 11, left Canada for Norway on Wednesday.

Three drivers--Brian Shimer, Jim Herberich and Randy Will--advanced from the trials, but only two will compete in the Olympics, based on a final competition here.

The U.S. federation, familiar with controversy, has apparently put some behind it, rejecting appeals by drivers Chuck Leonowitz and Bruce Rosselli that the trials were invalid and should be repeated.

Rosselli, an alternate here, claimed that equipment was taken from his sled and used on a competitor’s. Leonowitz claimed that he was unable to participate in the push phase because of medical reasons and maintained that the federation was notified before the deadline.