WNBA Star Detained In Russia For Alleged Drug Possession – Opinion

Brittney Griner (WNBA) has been detained in Russia for drug related charges.

The 31-year-old Phoenix Mercury star and Olympian has played in Russia during WNBA’s off-seasons for almost seven years. International basketball can be a lucrative career for female players. It is common for male and female basketball athletes to travel to other countries to make extra money, as well as to keep their playing skills up.

WBNA confirms that almost a dozen female sports athletes from Russia and Ukraine recently returned to their homelands safely. But Griner was taken into custody by Russian customs following a bag search which revealed multiple vape cartridges. According to police, the cartridges had a marijuana-based substance.

Russian Customs Service claimed Saturday that the cartridges contained oil derived cannabis. The maximum sentence could be 10 years imprisonment. The customs service identified the person arrested as a player for the U.S. women’s team and did not specify the date of her arrest. Russian media claimed that Griner was the player, but Lindsay Kagawa Colas her agent did not refute those claims.

Russia has a reputation for being hostile to minorities and especially blacks. Griner’s situation would be frightening in any period, but with international tensions high, it feels like an especially concerning situation, regardless of Griner’s alleged infractions. Ten years in a Russian prison for some vape cartridges, especially for a black American woman, seems like a terrifying prospect, and Putin’s government is not keen to appease American requests these days.

Griner’s agent says they continue to stay in touch with Griner and her Russian legal representation and are monitoring the situation from home.

“We are aware of the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in close contact with her, her legal representation in Russia, her family, her teams, and the WNBA and NBA,” Kagawa Colas said Saturday. “As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are not able to comment further on the specifics of her case but can confirm that as we work to get her home, her mental and physical health remain our primary concern.”

The State Department has issued a “do not travel” warning regarding Russia.

On Saturday, the State Department issued a “do not travel” advisory for Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine and urged all U.S. citizens to depart immediately, citing factors including “the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials” and “the Embassy’s limited ability to assist” Americans in Russia.

It is not yet clear if diplomatic efforts were made for Griner.