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FIFA has promised it will take appropriate measures against Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko if it is satisfied he was personally involved in the countrys doping scandal. Mutko, the president of the Russian Football Union and chairman of the organising committee of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, has been a member of FIFAs Council (formerly known as the executive committee) since 2009.But the 57-year-olds position in world sport is under threat after he was implicated in Richard McLarens devastating report into state-directed doping in Russia.Set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in response to media reports of widespread cheating at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the report said more than 30 different sports, including football, had benefited from various schemes to cheat anti-doping rules directed from Mutkos ministry.The Canadian law professors report said it was inconceivable that Mutko did not know what was going on and accused him of personally intervening to cover up a positive test belonging to a foreign player in the Russian Premier League. A look at the astonishing figures behind the doping problem in Russian sport WADA issued a statement later on Monday with seven recommendations, including one for FIFA that its ethics committee look into allegations concerning football and the role played by a member of its executive committee, Vitaly Mutko.Spokespeople from FIFA and FIFAs independent ethics committee said the two bodies would be asking WADA for the details of the Mutko allegations before deciding what to do, with the ethics committee taking the lead on any disciplinary action.If the report reveals violations of the FIFA code of ethics, the investigatory chamber will take appropriate measures and inform accordingly, the ethics committee spokesman said.Mutko, who has been Russias sports minister since 2008 and has played a huge role in the countrys hosting of numerous major sports events in recent years, has received a vote of confidence from his boss, Vladimir Putin. Mutko is also president of the Russian Football Union The Russian president acted quickly to suspend all other leading officials mentioned in McLarens report, including Mutkos deputy Yuri Nagornykh, but the minister himself has survived.According to official news agency TASS, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: Mutko was not mentioned in WADAs report as a person behind the wrongdoings... He is not mentioned as an actual perpetrator.And following publication of the report, Mutko reiterated his belief that no state-backed doping had taken place.Quoted by the Interfax news agency, Mutko said: I can say once again, there are no state doping schemes in Russia. Also See: IOC to discuss Russia ban FIFA should investigate Mutko Russia state sponsored doping Putin questions report Jose de Jesus Corona Jersey . This is the final meeting of the season between these teams.? The Capitals were 5-4 winners in a shootout Oct. Marco Fabian Jersey . 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Kluwe said he wont receive any money as part of the settlement. "This will help a lot of people that really do need that help," Kluwe said.TORONTO -- James Reimer thinks about a lot of things. The Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender had a premonition and told his wife hed play in Thursday nights game against the Boston Bruins. And he did, replacing the injured Jonathan Bernier. Before that, Reimer considered the possibility that he had played his final game with the Leafs after being in goal for five straight losses before Berniers return from a groin problem. Now that Bernier is lost for the rest of the regular season -- a minimum of three weeks -- with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, Reimer doesnt have to think about riding out the rest of his time in Toronto on the bench. His new challenge is trying to rebound from one of the worst stretches in his career lead the Leafs to the playoffs. "Ive had a lot of success in the past and had to carry the load in different scenarios, and Ive been successful in that," Reimer said Friday. "Youre a competitor and you love the challenges, especially maybe sometimes when the odds are against you. You just go out there and play your heart out and kind of hope that its going to be enough." Even with his best efforts, it might not be enough. With four games left, Reimer and the Leafs have 84 points, one back of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who lost to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night. Columbus has one extra game left, meaning Toronto likely has to win out and hope to get some help, too. The first task at hand comes Saturday night at Air Canada Centre against the Winnipeg Jets. Thats all Reimer, a native of Morweena, Man., is worried about. "The main thing is its not four games in a row," Reimer said. "As a goalie, you cant see it like that. You cant even win 60 minutes. Its about the first five minutes, the first minute, the first shot." Reimer did give up a goal on the first shot he faced Jan. 20 against Tampa Bay, and one within the games first six minutes twice more during a run of five straight regulation losses. The 26-year-old, who allowed 18 goals on 139 shots in that time, was made a scapegoat for the Leafs struggles. That did not sit well with centre Nazem Kadri. "It seems like when the team does not do well, hes the first guy that everyone hops all over, which really that shouldnt be the case," Kadri said Thursday night. "At that point when we were losing, the team in front of him just couldnt bring it together and just couldnt figure things out, and obviously the goalies left out there to dry by himself. We felt bad, and now its about time we have his back and step up to the plate." Itll take more than just Reimer to roll off four more wins, against the Jets in the home finale and then at the Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators. But hes undoubtedly at the fforefront now and said hell try to do his part.dddddddddddd. Reimer pointed to Thursday nights 4-3 overtime victory against the Eastern Conference-leading Bruins as evidence of his belief in why the Leafs can do the improbable and make the playoffs. "Maybe sometimes its not the prettiest, but we find ways to win," he said. "We pull together and we lean on each other and thats what it takes. With four games to go, no ones going to ask how we get points, just as long as we get them. I believe fully in this team that weve got what it takes." If Reimer can recapture past form that made him the Leafs starter -- and a good one at that -- hed have a chance to redeem himself and his team for last months losing. Hed also likely make a good case to another NHL team that hes capable of being a No. 1 goaltender somewhere. Saturday, against a Winnipeg team that has had its share of troubles in goal, could be the start of that audition. Reimer cant help but think about the future and what it holds for his career, but thats not at the forefront of his mind. "Honestly right now theres lots of thoughts swirling in your head about a lot of things," he said. "But now its just time to stop the puck. It doesnt really matter what transpires after the season or all that white noise, per se. All Im trying to do is just play my best and get those two points tomorrow and then go on to Florida. I try not to think about all this other stuff." From a team perspective, Berniers injury -- which happened in the third period when defenceman Paul Ranger pushed Bruins centre Patrice Bergeron into the goalie -- just adds to the adversity. "All the time in the NHL youre always provided with challenges through the course of the season, and this is just another one," coach Randy Carlyle said. "Our group has to continue to play to a higher level than we did in the last one. Thats what were going to ask of ourselves." In the process, the Leafs are asking Reimer to be stable and dependable. Beyond that, he doesnt want to put excess pressure on himself with the season on the line. "Obviously its a big game and some people might say its a must-win game and stuff, but when you start putting too much pressure on yourself, you cant perform," Reimer said. "Its a big game and we know whats at stake, but you cant really think about that. Youre just thinking about your own game and what you need to do to be successful." NOTES -- Joffrey Lupul is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, according to Carlyle, who said Thursday night the winger was doubtful to play against Winnipeg. ... Forwards Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk and Dave Bolland did not practise Friday because they were given so-called "maintenance" days off. ' ' '