WNBA star detained in Russia for off-season
Friday The US House of Representatives has approved a bipartisan resolution calling for the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia since February.
Introduced by Congressman Arizona Rizona Greg StantonResolutioncalls on Russia to "release" 31-year-old Grinner "immediately" when communicating with U.S. authorities. Release of Greener.
Greener's WNBA team Phoenix Mercury praised the resolution and tweetedSaturday"Stanton and many others collaborate with the White House, the State Department, and Brittney's family. Going home to keep her safe. "
Griner, who won two gold medals on the US Olympic team,Was detained at a Russian airport On February 17, after authorities claimed to have found an arc cartridge in her luggage containing cannabis oil.
When she was arrested, she was flying to Russia to play at UMMC Yekaterinburg, a basketball club based in Yekaterinburg. Greener has been playing at UMMC Yekaterinburg since the 2014 WNBA offseason.
If she is convicted of drugs, she can face up to 10 years in prison.
In May, the State Departmentstated that she had determined that Grinner was illegally detained. Last week, Russiaannounced that it would extendGreener's detention until at least July 2.
Last week, Grinner's wife, Sherel Grinner, and the Associated Press were scheduled to call the WNBA star, who was detained on the couple's fourth anniversary said it had never been patched by the US Embassy in Russia through . Cherelle Griner said she couldn't answer the phone because his wife called nearly 12 times on June 18, but the embassy's phone line wasn't staffed.
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