Kremlin says Sharapova doping case doesn't reflect Russia

Maria Sharapova in Los Angeles on March 7, 2016. (Damian Dovarganes / AP)

MOSCOW -- 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."