Brittney griner, a former WNBA-star who pleaded guilty on drug smuggling charges, is the subject of this article. She was arrested in Russia in 2016 and later sentenced to nine years in prison. Griner was a high school basketball star who led the United States women to the Rio Olympics in 2016. Griner's latest conviction is unfortunate, but Griner has made a good choice and has already begun her prison sentence.
WNBA star brittney griner pleaded guilty to drug smuggling
The WNBA superstar was arrested in February. She pleaded guilty at the time to drug smuggling. She was sentenced three years in prison. The remainder of her sentence will be served in a Russian prison. Griner admitted in her guilty plea that she was involved smuggling drugs. However, she insisted that she did not intend on breaking the law.
In 2016, she was detained in Russia.
Griner, despite her international fame and notoriety, has not been silenced. Griner's supporters called for her release but her husband and her team remained silent. In a statement, they claimed they didn't have any political knowledge of Griner’s arrest. Russian government has a strong anti-drug culture. Griner was arrested, which has made her very embarrassed, and the WNBA didn't do anything to support her.
She was the leader of the United States women's team basketball to victory at the Rio Olympics
Griner, despite her young age has won many gold medals. Griner was a member of the USA women’s hockey team in Rio de Janeiro. The gold medal match saw them defeat Spain 101-72. She was also awarded a gold medal in FIBA World Cup 2011. She has won numerous international honors and been named All-Tournament Team member and Most Valuable Player in Gold Medal Game.
She was sentenced with nine years imprisonment
Griner has been declared a "wrongfully detained" American government is trying to get Griner back. Bill Richardson, former U.S. ambassador for the United Nations has been given this task. Richardson is an experienced hostage negotiator and will immediately start working to bring Griner home. Griner had been in the care a consular agent, and that officer visited her May 19 to report that Griner was well and doing well in spite of the difficulties. Griner's rights are being respected and Griner is being given more access by the State Department.
Her fate now rests on diplomatic talks between Russia and the U.S.
Griner was still in detention on Thursday as her family searches for an exchange. Since June, diplomatic talks between the U.S. government and Russia have been going on. While the Russian legal action against Griner seems insignificant domestically it will not stop her from seeking a presidential pardon. Griner's fate will remain in the hands the Russian government for the time being.