(Moscow) A Russian court in the city of Khimki, near Moscow, has extended until July 2 the detention for transporting narcotics of the American female basketball star Brittney Griner.
Posted at 2:15 p.m.
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist with the United States (2016, 2020), was arrested at Moscow airport in February after her hand luggage was found to contain “vape pods” and “a liquid with a peculiar smell” of cannabis oil, according to the Russian Federal Customs Service. She faces up to 10 years in prison.
In May, Washington said Russia was “unfairly” holding the 31-year-old 2.06m star as the WNBA – the professional women’s basketball league in the United States – said it was “working to get Griner home.” she. His case is now handed over to the US special envoy responsible for those taken hostages.
The arrest of Griner, a 2014 WNBA champion with Phoenix, came amid a crisis between the West and Moscow over Ukraine.
Considered one of the greatest female basketball players, Griner, like most WNBA players, played several seasons for Russian team Yekaterinburg during the offseason in the United States.