accepted by WADA in an updated notice on the drug published in June

Commissioner Bob Bowlsby has referred to what the Big 12 is about to step into as it moves toward expansion as a sellers market.The conference is selling salvation for two to four schools that are clamoring for a spot in the Power Five and all the amenities (mostly lots of money) that goes with moving up in the world.Through open records requests to Big 12 schools, the reporting of other news organizations and statements released Wednesday by several obvious suits, here are the candidates (alphabetical order):BYU -- The Cougars have a huge national following, a history of competing at a high level and an affiliation with the Church of Latter Day Saints that prohibits the Provo, Utah-schools teams from competing on Sundays. This is not a small inconvenience. Nor will it keep BYU from possibly getting strong consideration. And as a football independent with its other sports in the West Coast Conference, BYU doesnt need to be coy and maybe could cut a football-only deal.BYU is known for its academic excellence and I believe we have an exceptional athletic program, athletic director Tom Holmoe said in a statement. As I have stated before, I would like to see our student-athletes compete at the highest level.Boise State -- The Broncos bring a top-notch football program, and an improving athletic program in general.Central Florida -- It has enormous enrollment (60,767) and is located in a recruiting hot bed, with a growing population in Orlando. The football was awesome a few years ago (BCS win against Baylor) and terrible last year (0-12).Cincinnati -- The school has just expanded and upgraded old Nippert Stadium, which now seats about 40,000. The football team has become a steady winner and moving into Ohio would not only give the Big 12 an eastern bridge to West Virginia but maybe open up some solid recruiting territory. The Big 12 is very Texas dependent when it comes to recruiting.South Florida -- Kind of like American Athletic Conference rival UCF, but not as big (48,973 enrollment) and not as much recent football success. However, right now, USF football is trending up. Wednesday was probably not the best day to announce the NCAA was investigating the athletic program.Connecticut -- Perhaps no school suffered more from conference realignment than UConn, a longtime Big East member that was shoved from college sports main stage. Sure the football was always so-so, but UConn basketball was a power and a powerful brand. With the Big 12 no longer talking about a conference network, that foot in the New York and Boston television markets might not be as appealing.Colorado State -- The school has been doing what you do when you want to get noticed. Expanding stadiums, investing in facilities and coaches. Big 12 schools have lots of alumni in Colorado, especially the Denver area. Fort Collins is about 65 miles straight north, pretty and growing. Maybe the Rams can replace what the Big 12 lost in Colorado?Memphis -- The Tigers have a notable sponsor in FedEx CEO Fred Smith, an alum who has promised his companys sponsorship to the Big 12. The football has been mostly irrelevant but is coming off a couple of excellent seasons. Basketball is top-shelf and so is the FedEx Forum where the team plays. School officials are quick to note how the universitys academic profile is on the upswing.The University is prepared to take action when opportunities to increase the level of positive attention and exposure for our city, campus and Athletic Department are presented, athletic director Tom Bowen said in a statement. The University of Memphis continues to gain national recognition for its advancements in research, teaching and student accomplishments, and the Athletic Department is one part of that winning combination.Houston -- A new on-campus stadium is sweet, and the Cougars picked an excellent time to be coming off a 13-1 season and a Peach Bowl victory under everybodys dream coach, Tom Herman. But will Herman be here longterm? If Houston is in the Big 12, that helps the cause a lot. Being in Texas is either a deal-breaker for a conference that already thinks Houston is Big 12 country, or a good way to lock up a part of the state that has been infiltrated heavily by the SEC since Texas A&M joined.At the University of Houston we are certainly honored to be mentioned as a progressive institution that places a competitive emphasis on both academics and athletics, athletic director Hunter Yuracheck said. As a Tier One research institution and Phi Beta Kappa member, Houston has seen a reinvigorated spirit in Athletics. We have returned our proud University to the national spotlight and we aim to compete on the highest levels as we build Champions for Life. Our mission will not change.San Diego State -- Getting the Texas-centric conference into Southern California makes some sense from a recruiting standpoint.Tulane -- Sounds a little crazy considering recent athletic success. The American thought it was buying low in Tulane and it still hasnt turned around. The Big 12 provides a lot more benefits (i.e. money) and the Big 12 likes New Orleans, where it plays in the Sugar Bowl.Rafael Marquez Mexico Jersey .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Orbelin Pineda Jersey ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. http://www.mexiconationalshop.us/ .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Candido Ramirez Jersey .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. Candido Ramirez Mexico Jersey .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco.Heavyweight contender Alexander Povetkin failed his second drug test in seven months, forcing his vacant interim world title fight against former world titleholder Bermane Stiverne to be canceled about 20 hours before they were to walk to the ring.Povetkin and Stiverne were due to meet on Saturday at the Ekaterinburg Expo Center in Ekaterinburg, Russia, Povetkins home country.However, the fight was canceled when the WBC withdrew its sanction of the bout because Povetkin tested positive for the banned substance ostarine in a random Voluntary Anti-Doping Association drug test conducted under the WBCs Clean Boxing Program, which allows for random testing at any time.Povetkin provided the sample on Dec. 6 and VADA notified the fighters and organization of the failed test on Saturday.The WBC hereby withdraws its sanctioning of the bout for the heavyweight interim world championship and will conduct a thorough investigation of the circumstances of the case and will issue subsequent rulings as required, the WBC wrote in its ruling.Ostarine, which is supposed to increase stamina and recovery ability, has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list since 2008.Povetkin promoter Andrey Ryabinsky of World of Boxing said of the positive test on social media that Povetkin was not clear where it came from.Stiverne (25-2-1, 21 KOs) could have gone through with the bout but without the sanction and a chance to win the interim title he elected not to.Theres no reason to fight if the WBC wont sanction the bout, Stiverne said. Im very disappointed in the actions of Povetkin. Ive been training for months to be victorious. To wake up the day of the fight, have breakfast, take a nap and wake up to find out he tested positive is the worst possible situation.World of Boxing announced that Johann Duhaupas (34-3, 21 KOs), 35, of France, would step in and face Povetkin in the new main event. Duhaupas has won two fights in a row, including a six-round knockout of Robert Helenius on April 2, since WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder knocked him out in the 11th round of a title defense September 2015.Apparently, Duhaupas was already in Russia and took the fight on less than a days notice, although it is unclear how the fight was set up so quickly and why Russian regulators are allowing Povetkin to fight in the wake of the failed test.Stiverne, 38, who was born in Haiti and lives in Las Veggas, made immediate plans to leave Russia.ddddddddddddIm headed back home to Las Vegas, he said. Hopefully, the WBC will install me as the mandatory challenger to face Deontay Wilder. I want the opportunity to fight for the world title again, that was my whole reason to come to Russia was to earn that opportunity.Stiverne, who is promoted by Don King, lost a lopsided decision and the title to Wilder in January 2015 in Las Vegas. However, with Wilder sidelined after having surgery this past summer because of a hand and biceps injury, the WBC sanctioned the interim title bout.The cancelation of the fight will cost both fighters their purses of $1,424,250 apiece. Another $316,500 would have gone to the winner of the fight, which Ryabinsky won at a purse bid.It is Povetkins second canceled fight because he tested positive for a banned substance this year. He was the mandatory challenger and due face Wilder on May 21 in Moscow. The fight was canceled nine days beforehand, when Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs), 37, failed a VADA test for the banned substance meldonium, which he claimed he ingested before the drug was added to the WADA banned list in January.The WBC ultimately elected to not punish Povetkin because the amount of the substance in his system was far below the threshold accepted by WADA in an updated notice on the drug published in June. There remain questions, however, about how Povetkin could have tested negative in random VADA doping tests conducted April 7, 8 and 11 while his April 27 sample -- the A and the B -- was positive for meldonium.Povetkins latest failed test came a month after Stiverne failed a random drug test for the banned substance methylhexaneamine, a stimulant also known as dimethyamylamine or DMAA. The WBC fined Stiverne $75,000 but ruled that he would still be allowed to fight. The WBC said Stiverne was cooperative and 100 percent forthcoming during its investigation.Stiverne informed the WBC that on the day of the test, in order to facilitate urination, he took a dietary supplement called Superharm in front of the sample collector, the WBC said at the time. He reported the ingestion of that supplement in the declaration of medication use section of the doping control form he filled in connection with the test. ' ' '