American basketball celebrity Brittney Griner has acquired a contemporary blow after being arrested in Russia on medication fees this month.
A Russian court docket on Thursday prolonged the arrest on drug fees of US basketball star Brittney Griner, Russian state media reported.
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained in Moscow airport earlier this month on fees of carrying vape cartridges that contained hashish oil in her baggage.
A court docket within the city of Khimki exterior Moscow on Thursday prolonged Griner’s arrest till Might 19, the state information company Tass reported, citing court docket officers.
Ria Novosti, one other Russian authorities information company, reported that Griner’s attorneys sought to contest her arrest, calling the measure illegal and overly harsh.
“Nevertheless, they primarily didn’t contest the drug trafficking fees themselves,” the company reported.
The arrest got here as tensions between Moscow and the West hit all-time low over Russia’s navy operation in Ukraine.
Following the arrest, USA Basketball, which oversees the Olympic groups, mentioned on Twitter it was “conscious of and carefully monitoring the authorized state of affairs dealing with Brittney Griner in Russia”.
It added: “Brittney has at all times dealt with herself with the utmost professionalism throughout her lengthy tenure with USA Basketball and her security and wellbeing are our major considerations.”
Griner, 31, led the Phoenix Mercury to the franchise’s third WNBA title in 2014 and a shock return to the WNBA finals in October.
The 206cm centre has performed for UMMC Ekaterinburg throughout the WNBA low season since 2015, serving to the membership to 3 Russian home titles and EuroLeague Girls championships in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021.
Griner is amongst a majority of the 144 gamers on WNBA rosters who’ve performed abroad within the North American league’s low season.