Christie Rampone says she's not healthy enough to train

CHICAGO (AP) - Veteran defender Christie Rampone says she's not healthy enough to be part of the U.S. national team's training camp for a pair of matches early next month against Japan.

Rampone, 40, had arthroscopic knee surgery in December. She had returned to play for Sky Blue of the National Women's Soccer League, appearing in six matches.

Rampone has 311 appearances with the U.S. team since 1997. She was on the World Cup-winning 1999 team, as well as the squad that won last summer's World Cup in Canada.

She has appeared in four Olympics, winning gold medals in the last three. In a statement, she said she was not at the level she needed to be to push for a spot on the Olympic roster right now.

The U.S. team opens training camp Friday. The team plays Japan on June 2 in Commerce City, Colorado, and again on June 5 in Cleveland.