Russia-Ukraine war | Brittney Griner
Russia arrests US Olympic Basketball Champion amid war with Ukraine
Russia has arrested America's two-time Olympic champion, Brittney Griner, on narcotics charges amid rising tensions between Moscow and the West over the latter's invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian Federal Customs Service said in a statement that on inspection of hand luggage carried by "a member of the US National Basketball Association, a two-time Olympic basketball champion in the US team" who arrived on a flight from New York in February "confirmed the presence of 'vapes' (and) a liquid with a specific smell", reported AFP.
The statement said the liquid was the narcotic cannabis oil (hash oil) as determined by an expert, adding that the detained woman faces a potential jail term of five to 10 years.
USA Basketball, the body governing body in the US, said: "Aware of and closely monitoring the legal situation facing Brittney Griner in Russia," adding, "Brittney has always handled herself with the utmost professionalism during her long tenure with USA Basketball and her safety and well-being are our primary concerns."
USA Basketball is aware of and closely monitoring the legal situation facing Brittney Griner in Russia. Brittney has always handled herself with the utmost professionalism during her long tenure with USA Basketball and her safety and wellbeing are our primary concerns.
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) March 5, 2022
Griner, who is 31, is a seven-time all-star center for the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), said the AFP report.
Several WNBA athletes play in European leagues, including the Russian and Ukrainian leagues, during the American off-season.
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