Author: Phlippages
A Russian court sentenced American basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison for drug charges on Thursday.
The 31-year-old athlete was found guilty of drug possession and smuggling vape cartridges with cannabis oil into the country.
Griner pleaded guilty in July to carrying the cartridges but said she had no intention of breaking the law.
“I want to apologize to my teammates, my club, my fans and the city of (Yekaterinburg) for my mistake that I made and the embarrassment that I brought on them,” the three-time WNBA league champion and seven-time All-Star said before sentencing on Thursday.
“I want to also apologize to my parents, my siblings, the Phoenix Mercury organization back at home, the amazing women of the WNBA, and my amazing spouse back at home,” she added, her voice cracking.
Judge Anna Sotnikova found that Griner had committed the crime “deliberately,” and the sentence is close to the 10-year maximum penalty.
Griner was also fined 1 million rubles ($16,000, €15,650).
After the sentencing, Griner appeared sad and stony-faced, and said she understood the sentence.
Her defense team said they will appeal the verdict adding they were “disappointed” the court had ignored all evidence they had presented as well as Griner’s guilty plea.
US President Joe Biden described her sentencing as “unacceptable” and called on Moscow to release her immediately.
“Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney,” Biden said a statement.
The WNBA, the US professional women’s basketball league, blasted the conviction and sentence saying the “verdict is unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected.”
“The WNBA and NBA’s commitment to her safe return has not wavered,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert in a joint statement with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
They said they hoped the sentencing would open the door for Griner to return to the US.
