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 body FIFA, chairman of the 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. Stitched Authentic Jerseys . JOHNS, N. Wholesale China Jerseys . 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The veteran left-handers renaissance hit a new high in Pittsburghs 5-0 win over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night. Liriano (9-3) scattered four hits over seven innings, striking out six and walking one to lower his ERA to a scant 2.00 as the Pirates snapped a four-game losing streak. The victory capped a remarkable first half for the former All-Star whose career hasnt been the same since reconstructive elbow surgery six years ago. At last, it seems, at age 29 he is all the way back. Not that he wants to talk about it. "I dont think about 06 at all," Liriano said. "I just try to learn how to pitch, how to move on." That includes trying to stay focused during a lengthy rain delay of nearly three hours. When Liriano finally took the mound at soggy PNC Park just before 10 p.m., he didnt waste time. Attacking the strike zone relentlessly, Liriano kept the AL West-leading As off-balance all night. "He set the tone, he dominated," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "He was just on top of his game." And the Pirates didnt let it go to waste. Pedro Alvarez went 2 for 4 and drove in two runs for Pittsburgh. Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Jose Tabata also had two hits each as the Pirates beat Oakland for the first time. Pittsburgh came in 0-11 against the As since interleague play began in 1997, but broke loose against Tommy Milone (8-8). The Pirates managed just six runs total during a four-game slide that dropped them behind St. Louis in the battle for first in the NL Central but nearly matched that total on a night they went 5 for 9 with runners in scoring position, heady territory for a team that came in hitting just .226 with runners on second or third this season. "I think we did a pretty good job of consistently pressing them and attacking them," Alvarez said. A little help is all baseballs top pitching staff needs these days. Pittsburghs 13th shutout lowered its team ERA to 3.09, easily the best in baseball. Lirianos perfformance marked the 24th time in 25 games a starter has allowed three earned runs or fewer.dddddddddddd "Im just trying to learn how to go out there every fifth day and make pitches," Liriano said. He made enough to cool off the surging As. Oakland had won 10 of 13 to vault over Texas and into the lead in the AL West but Milone struggled with his command. The left-hander was coming off a season-high 8 1-3 innings of work in a win over Kansas City last week. He didnt make it out of the third inning as Pittsburghs offence showed signs of life. Marte doubled leading off the third, and Tabata followed with an RBI double. McCutchen drove Tabata home with a single, and Alvarez followed two batters later with a single to centre that scored McCutchen. That was enough for Milone, who needed 80 pitches to get through 2 2-3 innings. "They were doing a good job of putting the ball in play and falling," Milone said. "And even though they werent hit very hard, you always give yourself a chance when you put the ball in play and thats what they were doing." He was replaced by Pat Neshek, who made his first appearance since June 29. The rust showed. Pittsburgh tacked on two more runs in the fourth to give Liriano all the cushion he would need to cap a remarkable first half for one of baseballs best comeback stories. "I like the way Ive been pitching and the way weve all been playing," Liriano said. "Right now, were in good position to make the playoffs and we want to continue playing like that in the second half and hopefully make the post-season." NOTES: Former Oakland first-round draft pick Sonny Gray made his major league debut in the fifth inning. The right-handed pitcher, called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday, tossed two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. ... The Pirates begin a three-game series on Friday at home against the New York Mets. Charlie Morton (1-2, 3.38 ERA) starts for the Pirates against Jeremy Hefner (4-6, 3.39). ... Oakland ends the first half of the season at home against the Boston Red Sox. Jarrod Parker (6-6, 4.04) starts for the As. ' ' '