Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion, was arrested with "vapes and a liquid with a peculiar smell" of cannabis oil (hash oil), the Federal Customs Service had said. from Russia.
The Khimki court, in the suburbs of Moscow, rejected the arguments of his lawyers, who intended to establish the illegal and too harsh nature of his arrest, reports the government news agency Ria Novosti.
"However, they did not contest the accusation of drug trafficking in general", adds the agency.
After the arrest of Griner, which comes amid international tensions linked to the special operation of the Russian army in Ukraine, the American Federation USA Basketball had expressed its "concern" about "the security" and the "good -être" of the player, who risks 5 to 10 years in prison.
Her Phoenix Mercury club and the Union of American Professional Players (WNBPA) also said they were "informed" of Brittney Griner's situation.
Griner, 31, 2m06, had actively participated in Phoenix's 3rd WNBA title in 2014.
Many WNBA players compete in European leagues during the offseason in the United States, including the Russian and Ukrainian leagues.
The American therefore played several seasons in the jersey of the Russian team from Ekaterinburg, with which she won the Women's Euroleague four times.
In a recent travel advisory, the State Department called on all Americans to leave Russia "immediately", warning them of several risks including "arbitrary application of local laws".
© 2022 AFP