Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years in Russian jail for drug possession and smuggling

WNBA celebrity Brittney Griner has been sentenced to 9 years in a Russian jail for drug possession and smuggling. Griner had been discovered responsible of the fees in court docket and at last acquired her sentencing on Thursday.

Griner was arrested in Feb. for carrying hashish oil vape cartridges onto an airplane whereas she was taking part in for her long-time abroad staff UMMC Ekaterinburg. Griner mentioned she made an trustworthy mistake by carrying the vape cartridges whereas touring. Russian prosecutors had requested for 9.5 years earlier than the ruling. The time she’s served in custody since her arrest will depend in the direction of her sentence.

The USA and Russian have engaged in conversations a couple of potential settlement round her launch, however no settlement has been reached but. Earlier this summer time, it was reported that the White Home provided to launch Russian worldwide arms vendor Viktor Bout in change for Griner and fellow American detainee Paul Whelan.

Griner has performed for UMMC Ekaterinburg since 2014 through the WNBA offseason. President Biden issued the next assertion after the sentencing:

Griner was carrying two cartridges that every contained one gram of hashish oil. People can legally buy the identical hashish oil cartridges she was carrying in 19 states for leisure functions.

The WNBA and NBA have issued the next assertion after her sentencing:

WNBA gamers have been urging Russia for her launch all season. Gamers wore jerseys with Griner’s identify and No. 42 on the again through the second half of the 2022 WNBA All-Star Sport.

Picture by Mary Kate Ridgway/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

Now that Griner is sentenced, negotiations between the US and Russia might start to get extra critical.

We’ll replace this story because it develops.