Russia extends arrest of US basketball star on drug charges: report

Brittany Griner is a seven-time All-Star center for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA.

Moscow:

A Russian court on Thursday extended the arrest of American basketball star Brittany Griner on drug charges, Russian state media reported.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion, was detained at a Moscow airport earlier this month for carrying vape cartridges that contained cannabis oil in his luggage.

A court in the city of Khimki outside Moscow on Thursday extended Griner’s arrest until May 19, state news agency Tass reported, citing court officials.

Another Russian state-run news agency Riya Novosti reported that Griner’s lawyers sought to oppose his arrest, calling the measure illegal and overly harsh.

“However, he did not necessarily contest the allegations of drug trafficking,” the agency reported.

The arrests came at a time when tensions between Moscow and the West were at the height of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.

Following the arrest, USA Basketball, which oversees Olympic teams, said on Twitter that it was “aware of and closely monitoring the legal situation facing Brittany Griner in Russia”.

It added: “Britney has always handled herself with the utmost professionalism during her long stint with USA Basketball and her safety and well-being are our primary concerns.”

Griner, 31, led the Phoenix Mercury to the franchise’s third WNBA title in 2014 and a surprise return to the WNBA Finals in October.

The 6-foot-9-inch (2.06m) center has played for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA offseason since 2015, helping the club to three Russian domestic titles and the EuroLeague Women’s Championship in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021.

Griner is one of 144 players on WNBA rosters who have played overseas in the North American League’s off-season.

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