Britney Griner,31, is yet still in Russia being detained and on her way to a penal colony after appeal was denied for carrying hashish oil into the country. Griner, an WNBA all-star was detained in February when she went over to Russia to compete for UMMC Yekaterinburg during her off-season and got caught with two weed vapes at Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow. She had arrived in Russia from New York to compete during her WNBA off-season. According to her WNBA player profile, Brittney has been dunking professionally for nine years with the Phoenix Mercury where she has broken numerous records. Eventually, she was picked up from Baylor University where she played all four years.
ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO—AP PHOTO
Brittney Griner's appeal has been denied by a Russian court.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 25, 2022
Griner will begin her nine-year prison sentence on drug charges. The U.S. government has declared Griner as wrongfully detained. pic.twitter.com/BAVBxpCDER
Currently the Biden Administration and President Vladimir V. Putin have engaged in secretive dialogue about a possible exchange. However Russian government didn’t want to budge until the judicial process had run its course. Nonetheless, the ruling on Tuesday was handed down by a three-judge panel. And Griner is set to begin her nine-year prison sentence.
Meanwhile, Ned Price, the State Dept. spokesman urges Russia to “engage seriously and in good faith” in regard to releasing Griner. Furthermore, Biden and Putin are supposed to meet next month in Indonesia. Hopefully, more progress will be made to bring Griner back home.