"Professional sport is a full dedication," Russian Shcherbakova wrote on Instagram.

"Unfortunately, because of my old knee injury, I can't train in full force.

"In several days I will have a surgery.

"Anyway, I am sure that everything is going to be good."

Figure Skating Federation of Russia (FFKKR) director general Alexander Kogan provided further details on the plans for Shcherbakova to travel to Germany to receive treatment.

"Anna will indeed be operated on, tomorrow she will fly to Germany, they will send her to a clinic whose specialists have already helped Russian skaters many times," Kogan told Russia's official state news agency TASS.

"We hope for her speedy recovery.

"The injury bothered her for a long time, but while she was preparing for the Olympic Games, there was no way to stop her completely."

A timeframe for Shcherbakova's return to competition has not been provided.

However, athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus have been banned from International Skating Union events due to the war in Ukraine.

Moscow has also been stripped of its Grand Prix of Figure Skating hosting rights, with the forthcoming season due to begin in Norwood in the United States from October 21 to 23.

Shcherbakova, who turned 18 in March, is the reigning women's singles Olympic champion, having led a Russian Olympic Committee one-two at Beijing 2022.

Alexandra Trusova took silver, but compatriot Kamila Valieva, who had been considered the favourite, fell several times in free skating after a week of mounting pressure caused by her positive test for a banned substance, and had to settle for fourth place.

Shcherbakova was also women's singles world champion in 2021, and is a two-time silver medallist at the European Championships.