Canadian ex-Olympian pleads not guilty to 17 felonies including drug trafficking

Authorities allege Ryan Wedding, 44, turned to a life of crime' after his snowboarding career ended

Ryan Wedding, the Canadian former Olympic snowboarder accused of cocaine distribution and orchestrating several murders, appeared on Monday in a southern California courtroom for arraignment.

The 44-year-old has been charged with drug trafficking, conspiracy to murder, witness tampering and money laundering, among other charges. Authorities allege that after his snowboarding career, Wedding turned to a life of crime" as a narcotics trafficker and led an organization that moved cocaine from South America to the US and Canada.