American basketball player arrested in Russia for possession of narcotics

"USA Basketball is aware of and closely monitoring the legal situation facing Brittney Griner in Russia," the U.S. national team tweeted, saying it was "concerned" about the player's "safety and well-being."

Her Phoenix Mercury club and the union of American professional players, the WNBPA, also said they were "informed" of Brittney Griner's situation.

It was in February that the inspection of his hand luggage on arrival in Russia on a flight from New York would have made it possible to "confirm the presence of vapers (and) of a liquid with a particular smell" of cannabis oil (hashish oil), Russia's Federal Customs Service said in a statement on Saturday.

Customs, who did not specify the identity of the young woman, nevertheless indicate that it is "a member of the American National Basketball Association and two-time Olympic basketball champion with the American team" , a record that matches that of Brittney Griner, crowned at the Olympics for the second time in Tokyo in 2021.

She faces 5 to 10 years in prison, according to the same source.

A video released by Russian customs shows a person who appears to be Brittney Griner going through an airport security checkpoint and having her luggage checked by an agent, who appears to be confiscating some personal effects.

Many players from the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) compete in European leagues during the off-season in the United States, including the Russian and Ukrainian leagues.

Brittney Griner, 31, played for the Russian team UMMC Yekaterinburg, with which she won the Women's Euroleague four times.

Standing at 2.06 meters, she also made the WNBA All Star Team six times between 2013 and 2019.

In addition to her two Olympic titles in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021, she also won the basketball world cup with the United States in 2014 and 2018.

In a travel advisory issued on Saturday, the State Department again called on all Americans to leave Russia "immediately", warning them of several risks including "arbitrary application of local laws".

© 2022 AFP