Madison Chock and Evan Bates will miss the 2020 Skate America event ©Getty Images

American ice dance pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates have announced their withdrawal from the 2020 Skate America competition to focus on their preparations for the 2021 United States Figure Skating Championships.

The duo won their second US title in 2020 but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have missed important training.

"After much consideration, we have decided to withdraw from Skate America," said Chock and Bates in a statement.

"Our training and preparations have been affected by the pandemic and at this time we are 100 per cent focused on our preparation for the 2021 Toyota US Figure Skating Championships.

"We will be staying at our training base in Montreal, but will certainly miss the thrill of competition and seeing our US Figure Skating family.

"We wish everyone good health and good luck!"

The 2021 US Figure Skating Championships are scheduled to take place in San Jose in California from January 11 to 17.

Skate America is currently due to take place from October 23 to 25 in Las Vegas in Nevada, without spectators due to the ongoing situation surrounding the virus.

It is a prestigious stop on the International Skating Union's Grand Prix of Figure Skating calendar and is due to open the new season.

Chock and Bates won silver at the 2015 World Championships in Shanghai and a year later won world bronze in Boston.

In 2019 and 2020, the duo won the Four Continents Championships while they have represented the US at the last two Winter Olympics.