US basketball bosses react to Griner’s Russian prison sentence

Basketball officials in the United States have said the nine-year prison sentence imposed on player Brittney Griner in her drug trial in Russia was not “unexpected.”

Griner was sentenced Thursday at the court in the city of Khimki, outside Moscow, after she was found guilty of trying to smuggle illegal drugs into the country.

“Today’s verdict and sentence are unjustified and unfortunate, but not unexpected, and Brittney Griner remains in wrongful detention.” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a joint statement.

“The WNBA and NBA’s commitment to his safe return has not wavered and we hope we are near the end of this process of finally bringing BG home to the United States.”

Griner, 31, was initially detained in February when hashish oil vaporizer cartridges were found in her luggage at Sheremetyevo airport, outside the Russian capital.

The two-time Olympic champion pleaded guilty in her case, saying the cartridges ended up in her luggage by mistake when she was hastily packing, and that she did not intend to break Russian law.

Griner usually plays for the WNBA Phoenix Mercury team in his homeland, but has traveled to Russia to play for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the offseason since 2015.

Griner’s case has drawn a lot of attention, including on a political level. The United States has formally classified it as “unduly detained”with claims from some quarters that it is being used as a political pawn.

Moscow has consistently refuted claims that Griner’s case is political, saying he broke Russian law and must face the consequences like anyone else.

Last month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that Washington had made a prisoner swap offer with Griner and fellow American Paul Whelan, who is serving time in Russia on espionage charges.

Blinken had a call with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov last week, although Moscow did not specify the details of any possible prisoner swap.

Media reports have claimed that Russian national Viktor Bout, who is serving 25 years in a US prison for arms trafficking, could be part of a deal.

Vadim Krasikov, a Russian citizen convicted of murder in Germany last year, was also mentioned in some reports about a possible prisoner swap.

In response to news of Griner’s sentencing on Thursday, US leader Biden claimed it was “unacceptable” and called Russia “Release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends and teammates.”

Both the NBA and WNBA have run ad campaigns in support of Griner during his detention in Russia.

His wife, Cherelle, has previously expressed her displeasure with the Biden administration’s handling of the situation.