WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia final month at a Moscow airport after a search of her baggage revealed vape cartridges.
The Russian Customs Service mentioned Saturday that the cartridges had been recognized as containing oil derived from hashish, which may carry a most penalty of 10 years in jail. The customs service recognized the particular person arrested as a participant for the U.S. girls's crew and didn't specify the date of her arrest.
Russian media reported the participant was Griner, and her agent didn't dispute these studies.
"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," Griner's agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas mentioned Saturday. "As that is an ongoing authorized matter, we aren't 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."
On Saturday, the State Division issued a "don't journey" advisory for Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine and urged all U.S. residents to depart instantly, citing elements together with "the potential for harassment in opposition to U.S. residents by Russian authorities safety officers" and "the Embassy's restricted skill to help" People in Russia.
Griner, who performs for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, has performed in Russia for the final seven years within the winter, incomes over $1 million per season — greater than quadruple her WNBA wage. She final performed for her Russian crew UMMC Ekaterinburg on January 29 earlier than the league took a two-week break in early February for the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournaments.
The 31-year-old Griner has received two Olympic gold medals with the U.S., a WNBA championship with the Mercury and a nationwide championship at Baylor. She is a seven-time All-Star.
"Brittney Griner has the WNBA's full help and our most important precedence is her swift and secure return to the US," the league mentioned in an announcement.