A Russian court has found WNBA player Brittney Griner guilty of drug smuggling and possession. Here's everything we know about Griner’s detention and sentencing—and what comes next.
Today, the U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner was found guilty of drug smuggling and possession by a Russian court, nearly six months after she was arrested at a Moscow airport when authorities discovered a vape cartridge with cannabis oil in her luggage. Griner has been sentenced to nine years in prison—likely to be a forced labor camp—and fined 1 million rubles, or around $16,700.
Many have noted that the conviction was something of a foregone conclusion, as it was necessary for Russia’s likely end goal in detaining and sentencing Griner: facilitating a prisoner exchange. Diplomatic discussions have already begun between U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken and his Russian counterpart, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, with the hope that an exchange can be arranged quickly to minimize the length of Griner’s stay in prison.
Below, find a guide to everything we know about Griner’s detention and sentencing—and what comes next.Griner, 31, is a three-time All-American from Houston who currently plays for the Phoenix Mercury. In 2012, she became the first NCAA basketball player to both score 2,000 points and block 500 shots.
As the trial progressed throughout July, testimony was offered from Griner’s WNBA teammates and her medical records were shared by her legal team, specifically a previous doctor’s note that had recommended Griner to use cannabis for medical purposes.
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