In this Sept. 30, 2013, file photo, Olympic figure skating champion Evan Lysacek poses for a portrait at the 2013 Team USA Media Summit, in Park City, Utah. Lysacek,the reigning Olympic figure skating champion, announced Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2013 that a torn labrum in his left hip will keep him from competing in the winter Olympics in Sochi. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - Vancouver Winter Olympic figure skating champ Evan Lysacek announced on Tuesday that he has to give up the Sochi Games due to a nagging hip injury.

The 28-year-old injured his left hip in August and said four months of recovery and rehab have done little to lessen the pain.

"In recent weeks the pain has become excruciating," he said Tuesday. "Nothing has worked. The whole time I thought I was healing, the process was actually not happening."

Lysacek, who has not competed since winning gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games, may take surgery to fix the problem. But he denied it could be a career-ending injury.

"I have had a great career and I hope it doesn't end this way. I would like for it to end on a positive note," he said.

Lysacek said he made the decision to withdraw from the Sochi Games last week after doctors told him he risked permanent injury.

"My goal was to be 100 percent healthy for Sochi. I followed doctors orders and remained optimistic," Lysacek said. "Doctors advised me I shut down the training because I could be doing severe permanent damage if I continue."

Lysacek became the first American to win the Olympic men's gold since Brian Boitano in 1988.