MOSCOW -- Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko, who has come under scrutiny in Russias doping scandal and was banned from attending the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, was promoted to a deputy prime minister on Wednesday.President Vladimir Putin approved a proposal by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to appoint Mutko to a deputy premiership in charge of sport, tourism and youth policies, in a decision shown by state TV.Mutkos longtime deputy minister, Pavel Kolobkov, a former gold medal-winning Olympic fencer who has represented Russia at the World Anti-Doping Agency, moves up to become the new sports minister.Mutkos elevation comes despite him having been personally accused by World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren of ordering the cover-up of a failed drug test by a foreign soccer player.Mutko was also denied accreditation to the Rio Olympics in August by the IOC after being named in the McLaren report. He has denied wrongdoing and suggested the report was biased against Russia.Mutkos anti-doping adviser, Nataliya Zhelanova, and one of his deputies at the sports ministry, Yuri Nagornykh, have been suspended on Putins orders since July, when McLaren accused them of helping to orchestrate cover-ups of hundreds of drug tests.Mutko becomes one of nine deputy prime ministers in Russia, a title which adds to the wide array of other posts he holds. In addition to his governmental duties, Mutko is a member of the ruling council of world soccer governing body FIFA, chairman of the local organizing committee for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and president of the Russian soccer federation.As well as the increase in rank, Mutkos new role reportedly gives him back powers over youth affairs and tourism, which were previously under his control when they were separated from the sports ministry by Putin in a government shake-up in 2012.There have been sporadic signs of discontent among some Russian sports figures over Mutkos leadership. Last month, he survived a leadership challenge as head of the soccer federation, a non-governmental organization. Mutkos main rival accused him of using the sports ministrys authority to coerce voters at the federations conference and suggested some had been threatened with losing their jobs for failing to back Mutko.Mutko personally intervened to cover up a doping case of at least one foreign (soccer player) in the Russian League, according to email evidence obtained by the WADA inquiry led by McLaren.The report alleged an additional 11 positive tests of Russian soccer players were made to disappear in a state-sponsored doping program from late 2011 to 2015.WADAs executive board called on FIFAs independent ethics court to act against Mutko, who has been a member of the scandal-scarred soccer bodys ruling panel since 2009.Among seven key demands, WADA leaders urged FIFA leaders to look into allegations concerning football (soccer) and the role played by a member of its executive committee, Minister Vitaly Mutko.---AP Sports Writer James Ellingworth in Minsk, Belarus, contributed to this report. 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"Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. Colby Lewis Jersey .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- In a story Aug. 24 about New York Giants owner John Mara commenting on placekicker Josh Browns one-game suspension, The Associated Press erroneously reported some of the details of the allegations made against Brown and details of the NFLs personal conduct policy. According to the NFL, Brown allegedly grabbed his ex-wife by her wrist, not her throat, and the ex-wifes allegations of 20 abusive incidents were contained in a court filing, not made to the media. Additionally, the NFLs personal conduct policy doesnt mandate a six-game suspension. It calls for a baseline suspension of six games without pay for violations involving assault, with consideration given to possible mitigating or aggravating circumstances.A corrected version of the story is below:Giants owner Mara `comfortable with NFL suspension of BrownA visibly shaken Giants owner John Mara said Wednesday he was fine with the NFLs suspension of placekicker Josh Brown for one game.By JIM HAGUEAssociated PressEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- A visibly shaken Giants owner John Mara said Wednesday he was fine with the NFLs suspension of placekicker Josh Brown for one game, despite allegations in a court document that Brown abused his ex-wife as many as 20 times prior to the Giants signing Brown to a two-year extension last spring.Based on the facts that were placed in front of us, were comfortable with our decision to re-sign Josh and the leagues suspension, Mara said in an emotional address to the media while his team practiced. The easiest thing for us to do would be to get a new kicker. Were trying to be fair to Josh. The easiest thing would be to say, `Terminate him, get rid of him. Were trying to do the right thing. Its not always easy.The 37-year-old Brown was arrested in May 2015, when he allegedly grabbed his ex-wife Molly by the wrist in their Woodinville, Washington, home. Brown was charged with fourth-degree domestic assault. Five days later, the King County prosecutors office dropped the charges because of insufficient evidence. It was reported that Browns ex-wife dropped the charges, and the allegations of 20 abusive incidents were never corroborated by the league because Molly Brown never met with the NFL.The NFL suspended Brown for one game. The personal conduct policy calls for a baseline suspension of six games without pay for violations involving assault, battery, domestic violence, dating violence, child abuse, other forms of family violence, or sexual assault, with consideration given to possible mitigating or aggravating circumstances.Mara said Wednesday he was aware of the entire situation -- and still sticks by his embattled kicker.When we made the decision to re-sign Josh, we were certainly aware of the arrest, Mara said. We were also aware of the circumstances involved. The charges were dropped. Nothing has happened to make us change our position. We did our due diligence.Brown signed a two-year, $4 million contract last spring, one that included a $500,000 signing bonus and $1 million guaranteed. Mara said he was privy to the information the NFL had collected on Brown.Were aware that there were allegations againstt Josh, Mara said.dddddddddddd We knew that the NFL would conduct an investigation. Were well aware that there were other (incidents). One of the things you learn is that there is a big difference between allegations and convictions. Its important to sort all those things out. Were not going to get into the number of conversations we had with a number of people. We will live with the results of the (NFL investigation) and move forward.A lot of time, people try to make it black and white, Mara added. There are two sides to everything. Very rarely you have a Ray Rice video.Mara referred to the video of the former Baltimore Ravens running back punching his now-wife in the face and knocking her out in an Atlantic City casino elevator, a punch that has essentially ended Rices football career.Mara said he was reluctant to even address the situation, but felt the need.I hesitated to get into it, because it is such a sensitive and difficult decision, Mara said. We had a lot of facts presented to us. We did our homework here. Nothing is going to be said to change that decision.The Giants signed former Jets and Titans kicker Randy Bullock to a one-year contract Monday after a tryout. Bullock will be the kicker while Brown serves out his suspension against Dallas in the season opener Sept. 11. Mara didnt want to speculate what happens when Brown is ready to return.Its going to be a football decision, Mara said. Its going to be decided on the field.Special teams coordinator Tom Quinn said he was fond of Bullock.We always liked him when we faced him, Quinn said. Were always open for competition.Quinn said Brown was stoic in his approach, even after the Giants brought in Bullock.Josh has been the same type of guy, Quinn said. He doesnt seem different.Brown had a Pro Bowl season last year, connecting on 30 of 32 field goals and 44 of 45 extra points for a career-high 134 points.Mara said that Brown has handled the situation well.Josh knows whats expected of him, Mara said. Hes been going to counseling. Hes been a good citizen since hes been here. Hes going to conduct himself in a professional manner. Were an organization that has always tried to do the right thing. Its not always easy, but were going to stick with our decision.Game notes Offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan said WR Victor Cruz looked great during practice Wednesday. Cruz has been out for most of the last two seasons with an assortment of injuries, the latest a calf. Hes had two strong days in a row. It has worked out well. Hes responded well. Hes certainly had a lot of reps the last two days. Cruz is expected to play against the Jets on Saturday night, his first game action since October 2014.Bennett Jackson, who was seeing time at safety, has been moved to cornerback because of a rash of injuries at that position. The former Notre Dame receiver missed most of the last two years due to injury. Hes going to stay there for now, said defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '