WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia on drug charges and her friends and family are demanding she is released.
Brittney, 31, is a championship-winning player with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, but during the offseason, she plays for Russia’s UMMC Ekaterinburg team.
Upon her arrival in Sheremetyevo Airport, drug-sniffing dogs detected cannabis oil (hash oil), which is a narcotic substance.
Russia’s Interfax News Agency quoted a statement from the Customs Service, which did not identify the traveler by name:
As a US citizen was passing through the green channel at Sheremetyevo Airport upon arriving from New York, a working dog from the Sheremetyevo Customs canine department detected the possible presence of narcotic substances in the accompanying luggage.
The customs inspection of the hand luggage being carried by the US citizen confirmed the presence of vapes with specifically smelling liquid, and an expert determined that the liquid was cannabis oil (hash oil), which is a narcotic substance.
The WNBA star’s arrest and her whereabouts since her detention are unclear at this time.
According to WNBA veteran Angel McCoughtry, Brittney had been detained for three weeks before the New York Times broke the story over the weekend.
A petition was launched on Change.org by journalist Tamryn Spruill, who covers women’s basketball.
The petition calls on multiple elected officials in the United States to secure Brittney’s safe return to the United States.
The petition has garnered over 900 signatures.
Brittney’s wife, Cherelle Griner, took to social media and thanked everyone for their support, and asked people to honor their privacy as they work on her wife’s safe return home.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me regarding my wife’s safe return from Russia. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated.
I love my wife wholeheartedly, so this message comes during one of the weakest moments of my life.
I understand that many of you have grown to love BG over the years and have concerns and want details. Please honor our privacy as we continue to work on getting my wife home safely.
Thank you!
Cherelle also shared a beautiful family photo with the caption:
We love you babe! People say “stay busy.” Yet, there’s not a task in this world that could keep any of us from wondering if you are safe. My heart, our hearts, are all skipping beats everyday that goes by without hearing from you.
I miss your voice. I miss your presence. You’re our person! There are no words to express this pain. I’m hurting, we’re hurting. We await the day to love on you as a family. ♥️
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I cannot imagine what Brittney’s family is going through especially considering Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and not knowing her whereabouts.
Please sign the petition and send up a prayer for Brittney Griner and her safe return.
