A lawsuit accuses the group trying to bring skateboarding into the 2020 Olympics of skirting anti-doping rules and giving favors to an IOC official that led to the ouster of a rival group from the negotiating table.Skateboarding is one of five sports the International Olympic Committee will vote on Wednesday for possible inclusion in the Tokyo Games, but theres friction between groups that seek to run the sport.A large portion of the lawsuit, filed last week in California, concerns anti-doping -- an issue in the headlines, as Olympic leaders sort out which Russian athletes are eligible to compete at the Rio Games. Investigators have found Russias government oversaw a widespread doping program that helped dozens of doped athletes avoid positive tests.The lawsuit, filed by the World Skateboarding Federation (WSF), alleges the International Skateboarding Federation (ISF) abruptly canceled scheduled drug testing at an event last year because of fears that several riders would test positive.The lawsuit outlines another episode, from earlier this year, in which IOC president Thomas Bach criticized the European X Games, also sanctioned by ISF, for failing to implement a thorough testing program.And the lawsuit says ISF received its accreditation in 2009 from the World Anti-Doping Agency using false information, which precluded the WSF from receiving the same sanctioning because WADA will only recognize one federation per sport.The lawsuit claims ISF violated WADA standards by handpicking athletes who were tested, and notifying them ahead of time. It says the ISF conducted no tests after 2010, then tried to reinstate a testing program in 2015, only to scratch testing at one event for fear athletes would test positive.A WADA spokesperson said ISF is in compliance with the agencys rules.Though the IOC oversees the Olympics and makes the ultimate call for which sports are on the program, it largely leaves the running of the sports to the federations that oversee them on a daily basis. In many cases, such as in track and gymnastics, its not hard to identify the internationally recognized federation. In others, especially action sports that have populated the Winter Olympics schedule over the past two decades, its more difficult to identify the governing body.When snowboarding was voted into the Olympics under the control of skiings international federation (FIS), many athletes in a sport full of non-conformists protested, saying the skiing group had virtually no experience putting on top-line snowboarding contests.In the lawsuit, WSF portrays itself as the world leader in producing skateboarding events and a key player in the movement to bring the sport to the Olympics. WSF claims that neither the ISF, nor its president, Gary Ream, have ever operated or managed a skateboarding contest. The lawsuit claims ISF moved to exclude WSF from the Olympic process. WSF seeks to be brought back into the process and whatever other damages the court finds appropriate.Now that the IOC has acted to exclude the most significant event organizer in the sport ... `(it) appears to be acting in a manner detrimental to skateboarding in the Olympic Games and detrimental to the welfare of skateboarding, skateboarders, and their fans, WSF president Tim McFerran said.The lawsuit also alleges Ream struck up a friendly relationship with Christophe Dubi, the IOC Olympic Games executive director.The lawsuit says Ream provided Dubis son with free training at a skateboarding camp he owned. It also alleges Ream hired a $5,000-a-month consultant who was or is currently in a personal relationship with Dubi.The lawsuit says Dubi was to remain uninvolved in the process to add skateboarding to the Olympic program to avoid the appearance of impropriety. But it also says that Dubi was in regular meetings with the ISF consultant and IOC sports director Kit McConnell, who works for Dubi.Ream, in Rio de Janeiro for Wednesdays vote, told The Associated Press he could not comment because he hadnt seen the lawsuit. An IOC spokesman said these allegations are groundless. Wholesale Pelicans Jerseys . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. New Orleans Pelicans Shirts . -- Team after team passed on Andre Ellington in the draft. https://www.cheappelicans.com/ . 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NEW ORLEANS -- New Orleans district attorney said hell seek 60 years in prison for the man who killed New Orleans Saints star Will Smith -- the maximum 40 years for manslaughter, plus another 20 years for attempted manslaughter in the wounding of Smiths wife.We will do our gut-level best to get the judge to impose the maximum sentence of 60 years, Leon Cannizzaro told reporters Monday.Cardell Hayes was found guilty Sunday night after insisting that he only fired because the retired NFL player was drunk and violent and had grabbed a gun following their collision in traffic last April.No one else testified Smith ever held a gun. A loaded .9-mm semi-automatic handgun was found loaded but unused inside Smiths car.Smith, a 34-year-old father of three, was a defensive leader on the Saints team that lifted spirits in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. He helped carry the team to a winning season in 2006 and a Super Bowl victory four years later.His death in a dispute over traffic was shocking, even for a city with a high rate of homicides.Hayes, 29, will be sentenced on Feb. 17. State Judge Camille Buras will have the option of imposing less than the maximum sentences, and could order them served concurrently. But the D.A. said the crime warrants maximum sentences, served one after the other.Hayes would have faced a mandatory life sentence had he been found guilty as charged of second-degree murder, and Racquel Smith will press for a harsh sentence when she gives her victim impact statement before the sentencing, according to a statement from the family.Its very unfortunate that another child will grow up without a father, said Raquel Smiths lawyer, Peter Thomson, referring to Hayes 6-year-old son. But Mr. Hayes, regardless of that, must face the consequences of his actions under our system of laws.Friends and relatives of Hayes, a former semi-pro football player who owns a towing company, left court without commenting Sunday night.Hayes defense said Smiths popularity led to a rush to judgment by police and prosecutors. Assistant District Attorney Laura Rodrigue countered that the defense was trying to smear Smith.A pathologist report showed Smmith was legally drunk that night, after spending time at the citys annual French Quarter Festival, a bar and two restaurants.dddddddddddd He was driving with his wife and another couple, who were traveling with a group of friends in several cars -- when his Mercedes SUV may have lightly bumped Hayes Hummer.Smith then drove off, with Hayes in pursuit. Hayes vehemently denied intentionally ramming the SUV moments later -- he said he was trying to dial 911 to report a hit-and-run and didnt realize how close their cars were.The jury appeared to agree with Hayes on this point, finding him not guilty of aggravated criminal damage to property.Cannizzaro said Monday that Smiths apparent anger and his high blood-alcohol level were likely factors in the jurys decision to hand up a lesser verdict than murder. But, he said he was satisfied with the two convictions, each reached on a 10-2 vote of the 12-member jury.Hayes said he armed himself only after he and his own passenger were accosted by Smith and Richard Hernandez, a passenger in Smiths Mercedes.Hayes also testified that Smith didnt notice his .45-caliber handgun until Hernandez alerted him to it. And he said he only fired after Smith went back to his car to grab his own gun.Assistant Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Napoli repeatedly noted that no other witness said Smith was armed, and that Hayes never told investigators he saw a gun in Smiths hands that night.I never gave a full statement to anyone, Hayes responded.Napoli said in closing arguments that Smith was executed as Hayes fired into his body, once in the side and seven times in the back.This young man tried his best, trying to avoid doing what he had to do, defense attorney John Fuller shouted during his thundering closing, which lasted more than three and a half hours.Saints coach Sean Payton was in court for the late Sunday verdict. A host of past and present Saints players, including former safety Steve Gleason, current quarterback Drew Brees and former running back Deuce McAllister, also attended the trial. ' ' '