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Moscow:
US basketball authorities mentioned Saturday that an American star basketball participant being held in Moscow on narcotics fees is two-time Olympic champion Brittney Griner.
The arrest got here as tensions between Moscow and the West have soared over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian Federal Customs Service mentioned in an announcement that an inspection of hand baggage carried by a US citizen who arrived on a flight from New York in February “confirmed the presence of ‘vapes’ (and) a liquid with a selected scent”.
It mentioned an professional had decided that the liquid was the narcotic hashish oil (hash oil).
The assertion didn’t determine the jailed lady however mentioned she was “a member of the US Nationwide Basketball Affiliation, a two-time Olympic basketball champion within the US crew”.
The customs service mentioned the detained lady faces a possible jail time period of 5 to 10 years.
US basketball authorities made clear that the lady was all-star Griner.
USA Basketball, the game’s governing physique within the US, mentioned on Twitter that it was “conscious of and intently monitoring the authorized scenario dealing with Brittney Griner in Russia.”
It added: “Brittney has all the time dealt with herself with the utmost professionalism throughout her lengthy tenure with USA Basketball and her security and well-being are our main issues.”
Griner, who’s 31, is a seven-time all-star middle for the Phoenix Mercury of the Girls’s Nationwide Basketball Affiliation (WNBA).
The crew issued an announcement echoing the language of USA Basketball and including, “We love and help Brittney, and presently our predominant concern is her security, bodily and psychological well being, and her secure return dwelling.”
At 6-feet-9 (2.06 meters), she is the one lady in US faculty historical past to attain 2,000 factors and block 500 photographs.
Many WNBA athletes spend the American low season enjoying in European leagues, together with the Russian and Ukrainian leagues.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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