Russia's Mutko leaves WC role

MOSCOW - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko, who was banned for life from the Olympic Games this month over doping, said on Wednesday that he is stepping down as chairman of the 2018 World Cup organizing committee.

"(Organizing committee director Alexei) Sorokin will be the chairman," Mutko was quoted by Russian agencies, two days after suspending his role as president of the Russian Football Union (RFU).

"He is the head of the organizing committee starting today," he said.