The U.S. government on Tuesday determined that WNBA player Brittney Griner is being “wrongfully detained” in Russia and additional efforts will be focused on securing her release, the U.S. State Department announced.
Griner, a WNBA All-Star player and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was detained in February at a Moscow-area airport after allegedly being caught with vape cartridges in her luggage that contained hashish oil, an oleoresin obtained by the extraction of cannabis or hashish.
In March, a Russian court extended Griner’s detention until May 19. If convicted on drug smuggling charges, she faces five to 10 years in prison.
“The Department of State has determined that the Russian Federation has wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Brittney Griner. … The U.S. government will continue to undertake efforts to provide appropriate support to Ms. Griner,” a spokesperson for the department said, ESPN reported.
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