Brittney Griner is a seven-time all-star middle for Phoenix Mercury of WNBA
Moscow:
US basketball star Brittney Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion, has been detained in Moscow on fees of carrying vape cartridges that contained hashish oil in her baggage.
An announcement on Saturday from the Russian Federal Customs Service saying her arrest got here as tensions between Moscow and the West have soared over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It wasn’t clear precisely how lengthy Griner had been in custody, with the customs service saying solely that the arrest occurred “in February.”
In accordance with the assertion, an inspection of hand baggage carried by a US citizen who arrived on a flight from New York “confirmed the presence of ‘vapes’ (and) a liquid with a selected scent.”
It stated an knowledgeable had decided that the liquid was the narcotic hashish oil (cannabis oil) and stated the fees carry a possible jail time period of 5 to 10 years.
The assertion didn’t determine the jailed girl however stated she was a two-time Olympic basketball champion for the US and a participant within the WNBA.
The customs service additionally launched a video on Saturday during which airport safety companies are seen going by way of the baggage of a passenger who seems to be Griner.
USA Basketball, which oversees the Olympic groups, stated on Twitter that it was “conscious of and intently monitoring the authorized state of affairs dealing with Brittney Griner in Russia.”
It added: “Brittney has at all times dealt with herself with the utmost professionalism throughout her lengthy tenure with USA Basketball and her security and well-being are our major issues.”
Griner’s agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas of Wasserman Group, stated in a press release issued to US media that the company was in touch with Griner.
“We’re conscious of the state of affairs with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in shut contact together with her, her authorized illustration in Russia, her household, her groups, and the WNBA and NBA,” she stated.
“As that is an ongoing authorized matter, we’re not in a position to remark additional on the specifics of her case however can verify that as we work to get her residence, her psychological and bodily well being stay our major concern.”
Griner, 31, led the Phoenix Mercury to the franchise’s third WNBA title in 2014 and a shock return to the WNBA finals in October.
The 6-foot-9 (2.06m) middle has performed for UMMC Ekaterinburg in the course of the WNBA offseason since 2015, serving to the membership to 3 Russian home titles and EuroLeague Ladies championships in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021.
Griner is amongst a majority of the 144 gamers on WNBA rosters who’ve performed abroad within the North American league’s offseason.
Earnings at European golf equipment can far outstrip what gamers make in the US. Griner has reportedly made as a lot as $1 million a 12 months with UMMC, whereas the WNBA most is about $228,000.
A WNBA spokeswoman instructed the New York Occasions on Saturday that each one WNBA gamers aside from Griner had left Russia and Ukraine within the wake of Russia’s invasion of the neighboring nation.
The Mercury, the WNBA and the WNBA Gamers Affiliation all issued statements supporting Griner, the WNBA saying she had the league’s full assist and our fundamental precedence is her swift and protected return to the US.”
The Mercury added: “We love and assist Brittney, and at the moment our fundamental concern is her security, bodily and psychological well being, and her protected return residence.”
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)