Sharapova´s failed drugs test an isolated case – Kremlin argues

The Kremlin is adamant Maria Sharapova failing a drugs test at the Australia Open is an isolated case and should not be used to “throw a shadow onto Russian sport”.

On Monday, Sharapova revealed she had tested positive for the banned substance Meldonium at the first grand slam of 2016 in January.

The former world number one insisted she had been using the medication for 10 years and did not know it had been made a prohibited substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on January 1.

A spokesperson for the Russian government, Dmitry Peskov, does not believe Sharapova’s case reflects the state of sport in the nation.

“Of course the Kremlin knows [about the situation], the sports ministry gives us information,” said Peskov.

“We regret this, but at the same time this situation should not be projected onto the whole of Russian sport.

“The situation should not be presented in such a way that it somehow throws a shadow onto Russian sport, on the magnificent achievements of our athletes.

“We’re talking about individual athletes, individual cases.”

Allegations of state-sponsored doping made in a report from an independent commission established by WADA resulted in the IAAF suspending the All-Russia Athletic Federation from international competition last year.

Russian track and field athletes may subsequently missing the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this year if the country does not meet reinstatement criteria.