Kremlin says Sharapova doping case doesn't reflect Russia
Posted March 09, 2016 6:00 am
MOSCOW (AP) - The Kremlin says Maria Sharapova's doping case and others like it should not be considered a reflection of Russian sport as a whole.
Sharapova is the most prominent name to test positive for heart medicine meldonium since it was banned this year, but there have been five other reported cases in Russia across various sports.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday that the meldonium cases shouldn't be "projected onto all of Russian sport" and do not "cast a shadow on Russian sport, on the amazing achievements of our athletes."
Sharapova and the others who have tested positive are "individual athletes, individual situations."
FILE - In this Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, file photo, Russia's Maria Sharapova reacts during the Fed Cup tennis match between Russia and Netherlands in Moscow, Russia. The five-time major champion says she failed a doping test at the Australian Open in January for the little-known drug, which became a banned substance under the WADA code this year. The former world No. 1 took full responsibility for her mistake when she made the announcement at a news conference Monday, March 7, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev, File)
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Tennis star Maria Sharapova speaks during a news conference in Los Angeles on Monday, March 7, 2016. Sharapova says she has failed a drug test at the Australian Open.(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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