A Russian court on Thursday prolonged the apprehension on medicine charges of U.S. basketball celebrity Brittney Griner, Russian state media reported.
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist as well as WNBA champ, was apprehended in Moscow flight terminal previously this month on fees of lugging vape cartridges that contained cannabis oil in her baggage.
A court in the town of Khimki outside Moscow on Thursday prolonged Griner’s apprehension until May 19, the state news firm Tass reported, citing court authorities.
Ria Novosti, an additional Russian federal government news agency, reported that Griner’s legal representatives looked for to contest her apprehension, calling the procedure extremely severe as well as unlawful.
“However, they essentially did not contest the drug trafficking charges themselves,” the company reported.
The apprehension came as stress between Moscow and the West struck rock base over Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.
Following the apprehension, USA Basketball, which supervises the Olympic groups, claimed on Twitter that it was “aware of as well as carefully keeping an eye on the legal scenario dealing with Brittney Griner in Russia.”
It added: “Brittney has always handled herself with miraculous expertise throughout her long period with USA Basketball and her security and also wellness are our primary worries.”
Griner, 31, led the Phoenix Mercury to the franchise business’s 3rd WNBA title in 2014 as well as a shock go back to the WNBA finals in October.
The 6-foot-9-inch (2.06 m) facility has actually played for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA offseason since 2015, helping the club to 3 Russian residential titles and EuroLeague Women championships in 2016, 2018, 2019 and also 2021.
Griner is among a majority of the 144 gamers on WNBA rosters that have actually played overseas in the North American organization’s offseason.
