Before her arrest, Brittney Griner was enjoying the peak of her basketball career and immense popularity as a gay, Black woman both in the United States and Russia.

Griner, 32, was playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia, where her salary exceeded $1 million, while she would earn just $165,100 in the WNBA, highlighting the pay disparity that leads top American basketball players to pursue overseas contracts.

In February 2022, Russian police detained Griner at a Moscow airport, claiming to find vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.

Like many WNBA players, Griner played internationally due to the limited financial opportunities in the U.S. women’s league.

Following her detention, Griner was classified by the U.S. State Department as “wrongfully detained.”
Her case unfolded against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with international sports organizations and many foreign athletes pulling out of Russia in protest.

Russian sports journalists noted the exclusion of their teams and the effects of the war on Russia’s once-thriving domestic leagues, now suffering from the absence of foreign talent.

Griner spent 294 days in a Russian prison, experiencing harsh conditions and uncertainty about her future.

Her lawyers maintained her innocence, stating she was clean and had been tested.

During her incarceration, Griner implored that Americans not forget her or other detainees.

The Biden administration faced intense pressure and criticism as it worked diplomatically to secure her return, with negotiations centering on a possible prisoner swap.

Eventually, the U.S. agreed to exchange Griner for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer imprisoned in America.

Observers saw the swap as a calculated political move by both governments, highlighting how public figures can become pawns in international conflicts.

Griner’s family, teammates, and the WNBA community rallied loudly for her release, expressing relief and gratitude when she was finally freed.

After her return, Griner spoke candidly about the impact of her incarceration but also shared renewed joy and determination to advocate for those still detained unjustly.

Her story underscores the intersections of sport, gender, identity, and geopolitics—illuminating both the perils athletes face and the resilience they display in the global arena.

Brittney Griner, an American professional basketball player, was arrested in Russia in February 2022 for possession of cannabis oil while attempting to leave the country after playing for a Russian team during the WNBA off-season.

Her detention drew worldwide attention and quickly became the focus of intense diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Russia, with many believing that Griner was being used as a political pawn amid worsening relations due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Footage showed the moment Griner was exchanged at an airport in December 2022 in a prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, symbolizing the high-stakes nature of her detention.

Griner spent months incarcerated in a Russian penal colony, where conditions have been widely reported as harsh, with inmates often subjected to grueling labor and minimal amenities.

During her imprisonment, Griner reportedly lived in cramped quarters and faced communication challenges, cultural isolation, and uncertainty about her future.

Her wife, family, and the U.S. government campaigned persistently for her release, with President Biden publicly declaring her wrongful detention and engaging in back-channel negotiations with Russian officials.

The American public and sports community rallied in support, highlighting the intersection of racism, gender, and sexuality in the case, as Griner is a Black openly gay woman.

Her eventual release as part of the high-profile prisoner swap was met with relief in the U.S., but also generated controversy regarding the decision to exchange her for Bout, and raised questions about the status of other detained Americans abroad.

Since returning to the United States, Griner has spoken publicly about her ordeal and has described her adjustment to life at home as both joyous and challenging.

She has resumed her basketball career with the WNBA, released a memoir detailing her experiences in Russian prison, and become an advocate for other Americans wrongfully detained overseas.

Griner's story underscores how global politics, national identity, and celebrity status can collide in unpredictable ways, leaving individuals vulnerable to being used as bargaining chips in international disputes.

Brittney Griner, an American basketball player, was detained in Russia in February 2022 for possession of marijuana.

Prior to her arrest, she played for the UMMC Ekaterinburg basketball team in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Griner states that her return to Russia was motivated by her desire to make her wife, family, and colleagues proud.

She spent 10 months in a Russian prison, which she describes as an incomprehensible period of her life.

Griner has written a book about her imprisonment in Russia, which is expected to be published in 2024.

She expresses gratitude for the support she received from people around the world during her incarceration.

Griner’s detention became a highly publicized international incident, drawing attention to the intersection of sports, gender, and politics.

The American government made significant diplomatic efforts to secure Griner’s release.

Her release was achieved through a prisoner exchange, in which Griner was swapped for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer.

Griner’s story has highlighted how governments can use public figures as pawns in political negotiations.

After returning home, Griner began to share her experiences and reflect on the challenges of adjusting to life after her release.

She now aims to help readers understand her ordeal and the broader implications for athletes abroad.

Brittney Griner, a prominent American basketball player for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was arrested in Russia in February 2022 for possession of cannabis oil, allegedly discovered in her luggage by customs officials using an X-ray machine.

At the time of her arrest, Russian authorities did not initially disclose her name, only referring to her as a U.S. basketball player with two Olympic gold medals; however, Griner’s manager and Team USA expressed immediate concern and support for her.

Griner, like many WNBA players who face relatively low pay in the U.S., regularly traveled to Russia during the off-season to supplement her income and had played in the Russian league since 2014, winning four championships.

Labor camp conditions in Russia, shaped by their Soviet-era origins, are known to be harsher than regular prisons, with reports of overcrowded barracks, lack of hot water, inadequate clothing, scarce medicine, and poor healthcare, as attested by victims and activists.

Those detained in such camps, including high-profile prisoners like members of Pussy Riot, risk severe deprivation and even death due to lack of medical care.

In Griner’s case, Western media and former athletes such as Becky Hammon characterized her arrest as politically motivated, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin intended to use Griner as leverage during heightened tensions caused by the war in Ukraine.

The U.S. government undertook diplomatic efforts to secure Griner’s release amid increasing international condemnation of her sentencing, and after months of negotiation, she was exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in a high-profile prisoner swap.

Her incarceration and the circumstances of her detention highlighted the intersection of sports, gender, and geopolitics, with many seeing her as a pawn in a broader strategic confrontation between the U.S. and Russia.

Upon returning to the United States, Griner faced the challenge of readjusting to normal life after enduring harsh prison conditions and the psychological trauma of being at the center of an international political standoff.

Griner’s ordeal underscored the vulnerabilities of women athletes working abroad and the ways in which governments can exploit celebrity athletes for political ends.

Before her arrest, Brittney Griner was enjoying the peak of her basketball career and immense popularity as a gay, Black woman both in the United States and Russia.

Title:

Content: ‘She brings light’: Brittney Griner’s triumphant return to the WNBA

Prior to being detained in a Russian prison for 294 days, Brittney Griner was on top of the world.

The 32-year-old was coming off one of the best WNBA seasons of her career. She was the Most Valuable Player runner-up, averaging 20.5 points and 9.5 rebounds for the Phoenix Mercury, who she led back to the WNBA finals for the first time since winning the title in 2014. Meanwhile, Griner was on her way to play for Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg, who she had led to four EuroLeague titles since she started spending her WNBA off-seasons there in 2014.

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At the time of her arrest Griner was, according to the testimony of her Russian teammate Evgenia Belyakova, “the most beloved player in Russia.”

To become such a popular figure in both America and Russia is no easy task for a gay, Black woman. But Griner’s ascent was never easy. She was bullied relentlessly growing up, first for her size and later for her sexuality, becoming one of the first active athletes in professional North American sports to come out as gay, shortly after being drafted No 1 overall by the Mercury in 2013.

In her first game as a pro, the 6ft 9in Griner towered over her opponents, changing the perceptions of what a female basketball player was capable of when she set a WNBA record with two dunks in a game. Griner went on to win a WNBA title, two Olympic gold medals, and seven WNBA All-Star appearances, on pace to achieve a level of greatness few ever have in the women’s game, and being marketed accordingly.

In fact, Griner was the first openly gay athlete to be endorsed by Nike. And the WNBA used her at the center of its marketing, acknowledging that gay athletes and LGBTQ+ activists like Griner were good for business.

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So when it all came crashing down at a Moscow airport on 17 February 2022, when Griner was found with vape cartridges containing traces of hashish oil in her luggage, not only did her career come to a screeching halt, but the league that she had been bound to since 2013 lost some of its forward momentum, too. She was later sentenced to nine years in Russian prison.

As much as Griner tried to stay positive, and as much as the WNBA community tried to help, a cloud hung over the entire 2022 season – one that would not dissipate until Griner was released and returned to America.

“Last year, it felt as though we couldn’t play with joy … It felt bad for us to be happy or to celebrate things because the weight of BG’s wrongful detainment weighed over us,” says former Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard.

When the US negotiated a prisoner swap to secure Griner’s freedom last December, she almost immediately announced her intention to return to the WNBA in 2023, signing a one-year deal with the Mercury. But nobody knew what to expect from Griner, who had spent almost a year under arduous physical and mental conditions.

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But, against all odds, Griner appears to be back to her normal self, on and off the court.

Related: WNBA power lies with two superteams. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing

In her first WNBA game in 579 days, Griner had 18 points, six rebounds and four blocks in a loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. In her first home game a couple of days later, she hit just the seventh three-pointer of her career, yelling “I’m back!” to the crowd of 14,000 cheering fans.

“I appreciate everything a little more,” Griner said about being back in the league. “All the little, small moments that I used to just [think]: ‘Oh, I’m so tired, I don’t want to go to practice today. And, oh, this and that.’ That has changed, honestly. Just appreciating everything because tomorrow’s not guaranteed.”

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Griner is averaging 19.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 2.4 blocks on a career-high 61.8% shooting through her first nine games of the 2023 season. She is back to being the Mercury’s best player, dominating in the post over swarms of defenders and blocking everything that comes her way on the other end of the floor. After being an honorary All-Star selection last season, Griner was named an All-Star starter on Sunday.

But what may be even more impressive is the enthusiasm and spirit she has brought to the Mercury and the WNBA, constantly flashing her trademark smile, joking around at press conferences, and uplifting her teammates at every opportunity.

“We were all hoping that she was going to be OK coming back, and that she did not lose her light, and she really didn’t,” says Mercury forward Megan Gustafson, adding that Griner’s presence has transformed the locker room. “I think we were a little bit surprised, because anyone that goes through an experience like that – I mean, I couldn’t even imagine being the same person. But she really is and I’m just so proud of her and just the light that she brings again … It’s really just her light, her positivity that [has] shone through.”

Sandy Brondello, who coached Griner in Phoenix for eight seasons prior to moving on to New York, is also glowing about the player’s return to the WNBA. “It’s like sometimes we sweat having a bad game – she was in prison,” says Brondello. “She had to live in prison for such a long time. So I think she has that joy. Just go out there and play.”

Griner has brought a lot of attention to the WNBA, which was already growing rapidly. Not only is the league averaging almost 1,000 more fans a game in Griner’s return season, but its broadcasts have also hit record viewership numbers – up 49% from last season across ESPN networks.

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“I think that if you look at last season, there was something and someone missing in the WNBA and that was obviously Brittney Griner,” former WNBA MVP and Griner’s one-time UMMC Ekaterinburg teammate Breanna Stewart says. “So the ability to have her back here kind of makes our circle complete, because she is such a force and a presence on and off the court and her ability to kind of be so dominant and aggressive but also such a kind, caring person – everybody’s missed that.”

Griner’s on-court play cannot be separated from her political advocacy off it, especially in a league as socially active as the WNBA. And Griner’s imprisonment has forced the WNBA to reckon with its lackluster treatment of athletes in the past, forcing the league to improve pay and travel standards so that the Griner situation does not repeat itself.

After all, the primary reason that Griner was in Russia in the first place is because her salary at UMMC Ekaterinburg is over $1m compared to the $165,100 she will make this year in the WNBA. In fact, 67 of the league’s 144 players still played internationally last off-season despite Griner’s detainment. Doing so is a financial necessity rather than a choice for most of the world’s best female basketball players.

The incident also highlighted concerns about commercial travel for WNBA players, many of whom are gay, Black women who can be targets of abuse. In fact, Griner has already been harassed this season when a conservative media personality confronted her and her teammates inside a Dallas airport in mid-June.

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In the past, the league has argued that charter flights create an unfair competitive advantage for teams that can afford to pay for them, fining the New York Liberty $500,000 for chartering flights last season. But the WNBA has already made improvements this season, allowing private flights for back-to-back games and for all playoff games. And after the news of Griner’s harassment and the pressure that came from it, the league recently announced that teams are permitted to fly on a public chartering service called JSX for the rest of the season.

It’s a step in the right direction that may not have been possible if not for Griner – a singular force who is as easy to galvanize around because of her on-court performances as she is for her personality. The league still has a long way to go in regards to growing the game and improving standards for its athletes, but Griner’s return has undoubtedly expedited the process.

“It’s a shame that it had to get to rock bottom. Because I feel like waiting for something to happen and then making a change, you don’t know what that something’s gonna be,” Griner said. “We’ve all seen what can happen in this world. And when you play the ‘let’s wait and see game,’ you’re really playing with fire. You’re playing with people’s lives.

“So I’m glad that they finally got it together and are going to allow us to do this. It’s just a shame that it took so damn long.”

Griner, 32, was playing for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia, where her salary exceeded $1 million, while she would earn just $165,100 in the WNBA, highlighting the pay disparity that leads top American basketball players to pursue overseas contracts.

In February 2022, Russian police detained Griner at a Moscow airport, claiming to find vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.

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Content: Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
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Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude

Brittney Griner Is Ready to Tell Her ‘Unfathomable’ Story in New Memoir

The two-time Olympic gold medalist will finally tell the story of her Russian detainment.

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Ahead of her return to the WNBA, Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner has confirmed that she will tell the true story behind her wrongful detainment in Russia. According to The Associated Press, on Tuesday, the eight-time all-star announced that she is working on a memoir about her imprisonment. It is currently scheduled for release in spring 2024.

In February 2022, Griner was stopped in a Moscow airport when the police said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. The WNBA champion was charged with drug smuggling and possession. After a short trial, the basketball star was found guilty and sentenced to nine years in prison. Just as she was beginning her sentence in a labor camp, in December 2022 the U.S. and Russia conducted a prisoner exchange, with Griner coming home, while convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout was released into Russian custody.

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“That day (in February) was the beginning of an unfathomable period in my life which only now am I ready to share,” Griner said in a statement released by Alfred A. Knopf.

When she was arrested, Griner was headed back to Russia to join UMMC Ekaterinburg, the professional team she played for there. Most top WNBA stars play overseas the rest of the year, as they don’t earn much money competing in the United States.

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“The primary reason I traveled back to Russia for work that day was because I wanted to make my wife, family, and teammates proud,” she said. “After an incredibly challenging 10 months in detainment, I am grateful to have been rescued and to be home. Readers will hear my story and understand why I’m so thankful for the outpouring of support from people across the world.”

The two-time Olympic gold medalist went on to say that she hopes “her book would raise awareness of other Americans detained overseas.” In December 2022, the Baylor alum announced on Instagram that she planned to play during the upcoming season, writing, “I also want to make one thing very clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon.”

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In February, Griner re-signed with the Phoenix Mercury for a one-year deal. She will make her 2023 season debut on the road on Friday, May 19 against the Los Angeles Sparks.

Like many WNBA players, Griner played internationally due to the limited financial opportunities in the U.S. women’s league.

Following her detention, Griner was classified by the U.S. State Department as “wrongfully detained.”
Her case unfolded against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with international sports organizations and many foreign athletes pulling out of Russia in protest.

Title:

Content: Brittney Griner to make another court appearance at a hearing in Russia

The content originally appeared on: CNN

CNN

WNBA star Brittney Griner is expected to make another court appearance Thursday, a week after she pleaded guilty to drug charges at a Russian court near Moscow.

The two-time US Olympic basketball gold medalist was arrested February 17 at a Moscow airport, a week before Russia invaded Ukraine. Russian authorities claimed she had cannabis oil in her luggage and accused her of smuggling significant amounts of a narcotic substance, an offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The hearing comes as many in the WNBA, along with other athletes, coaches and politicians, have called for Griner’s release over fears she is being used as a political pawn amid the war in Ukraine. The US State Department has classified Griner as wrongfully detained.

Griner also wrote a letter to President Joe Biden in which she said she fears she will be detained in Russia indefinitely and pleaded for the President not to forget about her or other American detainees.

“I realize you are dealing with so much, but please don’t forget about me and the other American Detainees. Please do all you can to bring us home,” Griner wrote. “I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore.”

It is unclear if the hearing on Thursday will lead to a verdict or if the trial could drag into additional hearings. Griner admitted guilt in the last hearing but told the court that she had not intended to commit a crime, state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

During Thursday’s hearing, the court could force the defense to expand further on her intention, or they could move on to sentencing her, US officials said.

Griner’s lawyers expect the court to take into account the 31-year-old athlete’s guilty plea and hope for leniency, Alexander Boykov and Maria Blagovolina told journalists last week.

Samples taken from Griner did not show any traces of drugs, Boykov added. “She was clean, and she was tested,” the lawyer said.

Griner’s legal team said it was her decision to plead guilty, adding that she “sets an example of being brave.”

“She decided to take full responsibility for her actions as she knows that she is a role model for many people,” their statement read.

“Considering the nature of her case, the insignificant amount of the substance and BG’s personality and history of positive contributions to global and Russian sport, the defense hopes that the plea will be considered by the court as a mitigating factor and there will be no severe sentence.”

Her lawyers said they expect the trial to end around the beginning of the August.

CNN’s Kylie Atwood, Rosa Flores, Jacqueline Rose, Alexa Miranda, Abby Phillip, Dakin Andone and Alaa Elassar contributed to this report.

Russian sports journalists noted the exclusion of their teams and the effects of the war on Russia’s once-thriving domestic leagues, now suffering from the absence of foreign talent.

Title:

Content: Foreign sports stars flee Russia as world shuns their teams

Darko Vojinovic/AP/File
Russia players react at the end of the 2019 Women's EuroBasket European Basketball Championship match between Russia and Sweden in Belgrade, Serbia, July 6, 2019.

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Less than a year ago, Russia’s domestic sports leagues, like their peers across Europe, flourished with a mix of foreign and domestic players.

What a difference a war makes.

Why We Wrote This

The Ukraine war’s ramifications may not be hitting the Russian public hard, but Russian sports are suffering as foreign players and organizations boycott them.

Russian basketball, hockey, and soccer teams have been excluded from international competition since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, and star foreign players are dropping their contracts and leaving the country. U.S. basketball player Brittney Griner’s 9-year prison sentence on drug smuggling charges has not improved the atmosphere.

Russian athletes have been shut out of international sports before – from the Russian Revolution in 1917 until 1952 – and the effects were clear. “There was no way to compare our level” with that of other countries, says Nikolai Yeremenko, a leading sports journalist.

Some veteran Soviet athletes say Russia’s isolation should be taken as an opportunity to better develop Russian players. But Russian sports fans will be the biggest losers, as the quality of games drops in the absence of foreigners.

“Right now we have no foreign players in our club,” says Sergei Druzhinin, manager of the Metallurg ice hockey team in Magnitogorsk. “The level of our games ... will be dragged down.”

Less than a year ago, Russia’s domestic sports leagues, like their peers across Europe, flourished with a mix of foreign and domestic players.

What a difference a war makes.

Today, amid deepening Cold War-like tensions between the Kremlin and the West, and as WNBA star Brittney Griner faces a 9-year sentence in a Russian penal colony, Russian basketball, hockey, and soccer teams are finding themselves forced out of international competition. And many of the one-time “legionnaires” – foreign players – on whom they depend are dropping their contracts and leaving the country.

Why We Wrote This

The Ukraine war’s ramifications may not be hitting the Russian public hard, but Russian sports are suffering as foreign players and organizations boycott them.

The alienation of Russian athletes from global sports has been an ongoing saga for years, since massive doping allegations largely forced official Russia out of the Olympics. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February led most international sports federations to ban Russian teams from scheduled competitions.

But less well known is the fate of hundreds of foreign players who, like Ms. Griner, had brought their expertise to far-flung local Russian sports teams that had been developing reputations at both the national and European levels.

The war has brought all that to a grinding halt, and upended European championship hopes for Russian basketball and soccer teams. Many European and American players have decamped while the few who remain have been subjected to considerable opprobrium.

The exodus of foreign legionnaires has been the subject of considerable debate in the Russian sports media, with some arguing that it spells the end of Russia’s sports ambitions for a generation, while others claim it will give more opportunities to Russian players and boost domestic sports development.

“Not enough qualified players”

Ms. Griner, a leading player with the Urals city of Yekaterinburg’s UMMC basketball team, was arrested on Feb. 17, before the war started, and charged with possession of a small quantity of hashish oil. In August, she was sentenced to 9 years in prison, an exceedingly harsh judgement even by Russian standards, which has caused speculation that the Kremlin hopes to use her in a Cold-War-style prisoner exchange with the United States.

But her ordeal has added to the wartime chill that’s already driving foreign players out of Russia.

“Obviously if one of the best basketball players is sitting in prison, it’s going to have a very discouraging effect on all foreign players who might think of signing a contract in Russia,” says Eduard Sorokin, an independent sports expert.

“All efforts to create a situation that attracts players of the highest level to Russian sports teams have been undermined, and all the benefits ruined. It’s not to say that legal violations should be overlooked. She pleaded guilty, [but] she might have just been fined and justice satisfied with minimal punishment. Now the damage is done.”

In an extensive interview with the official RIA-Novosti agency, UMMC captain Yevgenia Belyakova, who went to Moscow to testify on Ms. Griner’s behalf, praised her as a “good person” and a “disciplined” player who did not intend to break any laws. She lamented the fact that all the team’s foreign players and its Spanish coach left in February after Ms. Griner was arrested and the team was excluded from the EuroLeague Women’s competition.

“Naturally, the situation with Brittney could not but affect our legionnaires,” she said. “[We were] a big and friendly family. We not only played together, but also spent a lot of time off the court. It’s no secret that our team was formed for the Euroleague, and victory in [the championship] was our main goal of the season.”

Evgenia Novozhenina/AP
WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner (background center) listens to a verdict in a courtroom in Khimki, Russia, just outside Moscow, Aug. 4, 2022.

A similar situation pervades other sports, including hockey, where Russian teams have long been seen as a spawning ground for the NHL. The Kontinental Hockey League, which includes several non-Russian clubs, saw teams in Latvia and Finland drop out in protest of the war, and many players have followed suit.

“There are not enough qualified players to fill all Russian hockey teams; we need foreign players,” says Sergei Druzhinin, manager of the Metallurg hockey team in the Urals city of Magnitogorsk. “Right now we have no foreign players in our club. They’ve all gone. It means the level of our games, both as spectacle and professional attainment, will be dragged down.”

Some see an opportunity

Russian soccer may be taking the worst hit of all, says Nikolai Yeremenko, editor of Sovetsky Sport, a leading sports daily. “Football [soccer] has suffered more than most other sports. The money earned by leading Russian teams in [European competition] was a serious support for club budgets. But now all the high-level foreign players have left.”

“FIFA [international soccer’s governing body] made this possible by changing the rules to allow foreign players to suspend their contracts [with Russian teams] without facing any legal consequences. As a result, teams cannot plan ahead,” he says. “A player can disappear and not face any punishment. It’s already clear that the level of Russian football has deteriorated. We can no longer compare our level with the European one.”

As of early August, 37 legionnaires had left the Russian Premier League, which includes 16 clubs, and 23 new foreign players have replaced them, according to the Moscow daily Sport Express. But most of those who have left were top-rated European players, and their replacements are lesser-known players from South America and Serbia.

“A year ago, the league was replenished with players from dozens of different countries, but now there is no such wide choice. In terms of newcomers, Brazil and Serbia are in the lead – countries that have always willingly sent footballers to Russia. The difference is that before they were one of many donors, and now they are almost the only ones,” the paper said.

Some Russians, such as Soviet-era basketball legend Stanislav Yeremin, argue that the crisis should be treated as an opportunity to develop Russian sports and forge new links with countries that will still compete with Russians.

“Look forward,” Mr. Yeremin told the Sport MK newspaper. “I don’t think that we will be in Europe for at least two or three years. Therefore, we need to turn to the Russian market, or try to look for opportunities for international competitions with those countries and clubs that could still play with us. If you close yourself in, then it will be difficult.”

Russian sports have been isolated before – excluded from international competition from the Russian Revolution in 1917 until 1952.  “There was no way to compare our level, and so we were left completely outside normal development of sports” says Mr. Yeremenko. “I don’t believe in any claims that this situation can work to our advantage. Progress is only possible when the strongest compete with the strongest. Sports can’t develop under sanctions.

“It’s very hard to say what we should do now. When you have the ideology of a besieged fortress, everything gets all mixed up.”

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Griner spent 294 days in a Russian prison, experiencing harsh conditions and uncertainty about her future.

Her lawyers maintained her innocence, stating she was clean and had been tested.

During her incarceration, Griner implored that Americans not forget her or other detainees.

The Biden administration faced intense pressure and criticism as it worked diplomatically to secure her return, with negotiations centering on a possible prisoner swap.

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Brittney Griner Involved In Possible Prisoner Swap With Russia

In an effort to free Brittney Griner, the pro basketball star detained in Russia, the Biden administration has offered to swap her for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout and send him back to Russia, Forbes has learned. Negotiations are in the early stages, according to a non-government source in a position to know.

Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and six-time WNBA all-star who also plays professionally in Russia, was arrested in Moscow Feb. 17 after customs police claimed they found vape cartridges with hash oil in her luggage. Bout, the so-called “Merchant of Death,” inspired Nicolas Cage’s gunrunner character in the 2005 film, “Lord of War.” He’s serving a 25-year sentence in federal prison since his 2011 conviction in New York federal court of conspiring to sell millions of dollars in weapons to FARC, the Colombian terror group.

The possibility of a Griner-Bout trade was reported on May 13 by Tass, Russia’s state-owned news agency, and confirmed for Forbes by the source. “Currently, talks are underway on exchanging Bout for Griner,” Tass reported, citing “a source in the Public Monitoring Commission.” A second Moscow-based news outlet, Gazeta.Ru, had earlier reported a Griner-Bout exchange was in the works.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department declined to comment. Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, who leads the interagency team that’s working for Griner’s release, had no comment. The same was true for Bout’s New York attorney, Steve Zissou. Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Griner’s California agent, did not respond to requests for comment.

Despite the anti-Russian fervor in Washington sparked by President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war in Ukraine, the White House a month ago struck a deal to free Trevor Reed, a former Marine who had been held in a Russian prison for two years for allegedly attacking a Moscow police officer. In exchange, President Joe Biden commuted the sentence of Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was serving 20 years for conspiring to import $100 million in cocaine.

Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who’d been instrumental in Reed’s release, is also working on behalf of Griner’s family at their request, according to Mickey Bergman, vice president of the Richardson Center. He’s also working for the release of Paul Whelan, a former Marine detained in Moscow since 2018 on espionage charges. “The situation (as you might imagine) is sensitive,” Bergman said, declining to comment further.

Bout was a translator in the Soviet army before starting an air-freight company that transported tens of millions of arms he supplied during his heyday in the 1990s and early 2000s to sanctioned militias and rebels in conflicts throughout Africa and Asia. Soft-spoken, erudite, fluent in seven languages with an IQ of 170, Bout seemed more like a university professor than the world’s most notorious illegal arms trafficker. His 2008 arrest in Bangkok was part of a sting operation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

The U.S. government opposes the practice of wrongful detention as a bargaining chip because it represents a threat to the safety of everyone traveling, working and living abroad, a State Department official told Forbes. That disdain, however, didn’t stop the department from helping arrange the release of Reed and others.

Griner, 31, is by far the most high profile of the more than a dozen Americans detained by Russia in the last decade. That puts more pressure on the State Department, which is acutely aware that as a Black lesbian, Griner could be a target of Putin’s exclusionary politics. Since the maximum base salary in the WNBA is $228,094 — male stars can earn as much as Steph Curry’s $45 million annually — Griner and many other American women play during the WNBA off-season in Russia, where they can bring home more than $1 million. Griner has played several years for the team in Ekaterinburg.

Griner’s U.S. supporters were at first mostly silent over her plight. The government convinced them that Russia might deport her quickly only if her case did not become front-page news. Once it became clear that Russia planned to hold her, the State Department changed her status to “wrongfully detained,” opening the door to swap negotiations. Briner’s U.S. supporters have spoken out forcefully against her imprisonment.

One lingering question is whether a deal to swap Bout for Griner will get Biden’s approval. Given the president’s declaration that Putin is a “war criminal,” some on Griner’s team worry he might hesitate before freeing an infamous Russian arms trafficker.

“There’s a problem with releasing a convicted arms trafficker for Griner, whose drug possession would probably only be a fine in the U.S.,” says Shira Scheindlin, the retired federal judge who presided over the Bout trial and was required to sentence him to the 25-year mandatory minimum. “It would be better if Bout – who has already served too much time in my opinion – was exchanged for both Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. Then there would be some moral equivalency about which few could complain.”

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Eventually, the U.S. agreed to exchange Griner for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer imprisoned in America.

Observers saw the swap as a calculated political move by both governments, highlighting how public figures can become pawns in international conflicts.

Griner’s family, teammates, and the WNBA community rallied loudly for her release, expressing relief and gratitude when she was finally freed.

After her return, Griner spoke candidly about the impact of her incarceration but also shared renewed joy and determination to advocate for those still detained unjustly.

Her story underscores the intersections of sport, gender, identity, and geopolitics—illuminating both the perils athletes face and the resilience they display in the global arena.

Brittney Griner, an American professional basketball player, was arrested in Russia in February 2022 for possession of cannabis oil while attempting to leave the country after playing for a Russian team during the WNBA off-season.

Title:

Content: Brittney Greiner announced the release of her book about prison in Russia
Comments
Popular American basketball player Brittney Greiner, who played in the Russian Federation for UMMC, told about the release of her autobiography “Homecoming ”.
Grainer ’ s book is about her incarceration in a Russian prison.
"The first copy of 'Return Home' has just come out in print.
Someone already pre-ordered to get a copy? ” wrote Greiner on his page in social networks.
Photo: From Brittney Greiner's personal archive
Brittney was jailed in February 2022 for transporting banned substances.
The basketball player was released as part of the prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States, which took place in December 2022.
Greiner's presentation before the Women's National Basketball Association All-Star Game:
Materials on the topic
He was on drugs and decided to speak up.
What will Greiner's book be about?
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Her detention drew worldwide attention and quickly became the focus of intense diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Russia, with many believing that Griner was being used as a political pawn amid worsening relations due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Footage showed the moment Griner was exchanged at an airport in December 2022 in a prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, symbolizing the high-stakes nature of her detention.

Griner spent months incarcerated in a Russian penal colony, where conditions have been widely reported as harsh, with inmates often subjected to grueling labor and minimal amenities.

During her imprisonment, Griner reportedly lived in cramped quarters and faced communication challenges, cultural isolation, and uncertainty about her future.

Her wife, family, and the U.S. government campaigned persistently for her release, with President Biden publicly declaring her wrongful detention and engaging in back-channel negotiations with Russian officials.

The American public and sports community rallied in support, highlighting the intersection of racism, gender, and sexuality in the case, as Griner is a Black openly gay woman.

Her eventual release as part of the high-profile prisoner swap was met with relief in the U.S., but also generated controversy regarding the decision to exchange her for Bout, and raised questions about the status of other detained Americans abroad.

Since returning to the United States, Griner has spoken publicly about her ordeal and has described her adjustment to life at home as both joyous and challenging.

Title:

Content: 08 December 2022, 21: 42
The first footage of the exchange of Booth for an American Greiner
There was a video of the exchange of Russian Viktor Bout to American Brittney Greiner
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There were the first shots of the exchange of Victor Bout for American basketball player Brittney Greiner.
The plane with a Russian on board has already crossed the border of Russia and is now heading to Moscow.
The footage shows how the girl puts things together, signs documents and leaves prison.
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“Will you come here again?
Well done!
Come, ” said an employee of the correctional colony in Mordovia.
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The basketball player on the plane was asked what emotions she felt.
“Happiness, ” she said.
Greiner said she was ready to fly.
But she didn ’ t know exactly where she was going.
The escort told her that she was going home to the United States, “so everything will be fine. ”
The exchange took place at Abu Dhabi Airport.
Victor Booth was escorted to the plane.
His condition was checked by doctors on board.
"Thank you very much. <... > Directly taken from the cell, with all the things sent.
Then seven hours to Manchester and seven hours from Manchester. <... > I tried every year to do blood tests and see that everything was fine, "he said.
Booth noted that the whole situation is rather strange.
During the flight, he called his mother.
“Mommy, hello!
They're just gonna refuel, they're all good, Mom, don't worry, it's okay.
I love you very much. <... > Don ’ t worry, everything is fine, I will tell you when I meet you, ” the Russian said with a smile on his face and asked to transfer the phone to his wife.
On Thursday, December 8, it became known that the Russian Foreign Ministry achieved the exchange of Bout for serving time for drug smuggling American Brittney Greiner.
Residents of Russia and other countries sent messages congratulating Victor on his release and return to his homeland.
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She has resumed her basketball career with the WNBA, released a memoir detailing her experiences in Russian prison, and become an advocate for other Americans wrongfully detained overseas.

Griner's story underscores how global politics, national identity, and celebrity status can collide in unpredictable ways, leaving individuals vulnerable to being used as bargaining chips in international disputes.

Brittney Griner, an American basketball player, was detained in Russia in February 2022 for possession of marijuana.

Title:

Content: American basketball player Grainer has written a book about her imprisonment in Russia.
Michael Jordan sports shoes sold for a record $2.2 million
American basketball player Grainer has written a book about her imprisonment in Russia.
NEW YORK (AFP) - Sotheby ’ s on Tuesday announced the sale of NBA legend Michael Jordan ’ s sneakers in his last championship final with the Chicago Bulls in 1998 for a record $2.2 million.
At this price, the former Bulls star confirms his reputation as the king of sportswear auctions that are bought in order to keep them in a sports collection, breaking his record for sneakers ($1.4 million in 2021).
He holds the record for the most expensive shirt ($10.1 million in September 2022).
Jordan wore the black and red Air Jordan 13 shoe in the second game of the final round, at Salt Lake City Stadium, an episode narrated in the successful documentary The Last Dance released in 2020 on Netflix and ESPN.
Although the stadium stands were full of Utah Jazz fans, the Bulls won 93-88 thanks to Jordan's 37 points.
Give me a shoe.
Shotheby's estimated the price of the shoes between $2 million and $4 million, pointing out that Jordan gave the shoes after the game to one of the people collecting balls, but the latter is no longer the owner at the moment of sale.
Showbiz did not immediately disclose any information about the seller or buyer.
Basketball star Britney Grainer said on Tuesday she was preparing a book about her 10-month imprisonment in Russia until December, when she was released after a prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington.
The book, whose name is not yet known, is due to be published in 2024, according to Alfred A.
Britney Grainer describes a harsh, surreal experience and terrifying aspects of everyday life in Russia.One of the most prominent LGBT people, Grainer was arrested for drug trafficking when she arrived in Russia in February 2022 to play for the Yekaterinburg team at the end of the NFL season, a common practice among women basketball players. She was released after lengthy negotiations in exchange for the release of Russian arms dealer Victor Bout who was serving a 25-year sentence in the United States.Grainer said her arrest was the beginning of an unimaginable period in my life, so I wasn ’ t ready to talk about it until then.
The only reason I went to Russia for my job was to make my wife, family and colleagues proud of me.
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Prior to her arrest, she played for the UMMC Ekaterinburg basketball team in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Title:

Content: 10 months in prison in Russia.
American basketball player releases book on 'cruel' memoirs
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Copy Link https: / / www.rt.com / v421
Basketball player Britney Grainer announced on Tuesday that she is preparing a book about her 10-month imprisonment in Russia until December 2023, after being released in an exchange deal between Moscow and Washington.
Britney Grainer said: “That day in February was the beginning of an incomprehensible period in my life, and I ’ m now ready to share it.
The main reason I returned to Russia at the time was that I wanted my wife (lesbian), family and colleagues to be proud of me.
After 10 very difficult months behind bars, I am grateful that I have been rescued and that I am at home.
Readers will listen to my story and understand why I am so grateful for the support of people from all over the world. ”
The book of the American national team player and the UMMC team from the Russian city of Yekaterinburg is scheduled to be published in the spring of 2024.
In February 2022, Britney Grainer was detained at Moscow ’ s Sheremetyevo International Airport on charges of attempting to smuggle drugs into Russia.
The Moscow District Court of Khimki sentenced the American basketball player to 9.5 years in prison and a fine of 1 million rubles (about $20,000) after she was convicted of smuggling and keeping drugs – hashish oil.
Britney Greiner, who was detained in Russia from February to December 2023, was released in an exchange deal with Russian businessman Viktor Bout, and the exchange took place at Abu Dhabi airport, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Britney Grainer, 32, won the 2014 Basketball World Cup in Turkey, the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the 2018 World Cup in Spain and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Prior to her arrest, she played for the UMMC Ekaterinburg basketball team from the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.
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Griner states that her return to Russia was motivated by her desire to make her wife, family, and colleagues proud.

She spent 10 months in a Russian prison, which she describes as an incomprehensible period of her life.

Griner has written a book about her imprisonment in Russia, which is expected to be published in 2024.

She expresses gratitude for the support she received from people around the world during her incarceration.

Griner’s detention became a highly publicized international incident, drawing attention to the intersection of sports, gender, and politics.

The American government made significant diplomatic efforts to secure Griner’s release.

Title:

Content: Putin Arrests Senior Intelligence Officers
Is there an internal coup in Russia?
0.
The British newspaper “The Times ” reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin, has arrested a number of senior officers within the Russian intelligence service FSB.
Putin arrests top intelligence officers
The head of Russian intelligence has been placed under house arrest, a sign that President Putin is seeking to blame the security services for the faltering invasion of Ukraine.
The Times said Sergei Beseda, head of the FSB ’ s foreign intelligence branch, was arrested along with his deputy, Anatoly Bolyukh.
According to a leading expert in the Russian security services.
Andrei Soldatov, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Agentura, an investigative website that monitors Russia ’ s Federal Security Service and other agencies, said.
Sources within the Federal Security Service confirmed the detention of the two men.
Vladimir Osishkin, an exiled Russian human rights activist, confirmed the arrests.
He added that FSB officers conducted searches at more than 20 addresses around Moscow of colleagues suspected of having contacts with journalists.
Osishkin stated that the official basis for conducting these searches is to charge the detainees with embezzling funds intended for subversive activities in Ukraine.
But he said the real reason was that they were providing “unreliable, incomplete and partly false information about the political situation in Ukraine. ”
It might interest you, too.
"The arrest of the intelligence chief underscores Putin's growing anger at his intelligence services, which he believes have provided false information about the situation in Ukraine," Soldatov told The Times, adding that Putin "finally realized that he had been misled."
Beseda, 68, is the head of Russia ’ s Fifth Service intelligence branch and is in charge of intelligence gathering in Ukraine.
Bolyukh, 66, is in charge of the operational information department, one of the departments of the 5th arrondissement.
There are reports that several military commanders have been dismissed.
The head of the Ukrainian Security Council, Oleksiy Danilov, said on Thursday that "about eight leaders" of Russia had been sacked.
The attack on Ukraine began on February 24.
Soldatov told the newspaper that this week it was revealed that the final reports issued by the Federal Security Office on Ukraine in the run-up to the war.
It was “simply untrue. ”
This is one of the reasons why the Russians were unable to achieve what they were aiming for as planned.
He said their assessments of Ukrainian popular support for the Russian attack and the extent of the country ’ s resistance were “terribly wrong. ”
London has become a graveyard for the riches of the rich Russians.
In another context, the British capital has turned into a graveyard of the wealth of the rich Russians, or what the Western media calls “Putin ’ s oligarchy. ”
The capital of the fog has been a favorite destination for Russian businessmen, to invest and buy luxury real estate.
Gradually, the list of businessmen covered by the British sanctions expands from confiscation of money and property, to prohibition of entry into the country and prosecution.
The British Foreign Office has announced the list of Russian individuals who have been sanctioned by the government over the war in Ukraine.
These are seven of the richest Russian businessmen who have property or financial investments in Britain or have financial assets passing through the financial district of London.
In total, 18 Russian businessmen have been sanctioned by the UK.
The British Foreign Office justified its decision that these figures are one of the long and important arms with which Russian President Vladimir Putin moves, or that they belong to the narrow circle of the president.
(Source: The Times – Translated by Homeland)
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Her release was achieved through a prisoner exchange, in which Griner was swapped for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer.

Griner’s story has highlighted how governments can use public figures as pawns in political negotiations.

After returning home, Griner began to share her experiences and reflect on the challenges of adjusting to life after her release.

She now aims to help readers understand her ordeal and the broader implications for athletes abroad.

Brittney Griner, a prominent American basketball player for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was arrested in Russia in February 2022 for possession of cannabis oil, allegedly discovered in her luggage by customs officials using an X-ray machine.

Title:

Content: U.S. basketball center arrested in Russia for possession of marijuana faces 10 years in prison
Author: Zhang Qianyi
Published: Updated:
According to the New York Times, American basketball center Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia last month after being found with cannabis oil and smoking equipment.
The WNBA has publicly expressed its support for Glenna, saying it will do everything in its power to get her back to the United States safely.
Glenna, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury team of the WNBA, helped the U.S. women ’ s basketball team win gold at the Tokyo Olympics last year and is the first player in history to win the WNBA championship.
Gulina was arrested at Sheremetyevo International Airport near Moscow in February after she was found carrying cannabis oil and smoking utensils while flying from New York to Russia.
At first, the Russian authorities did not disclose the name of the arrested person, only mentioning "two-time Olympic gold medalist American basketball player", until Russia's TASS news agency revealed the identity of the arrested person: WNBA Phoenix Mercury center Glenna.
Glenna, playing for the Phoenix Mercury, the WNBA team, has just won the gold medal for the United States women's basketball team at the Tokyo Olympics, and is the first player in history to win the WNBA championship.
(Getty Images)
A closed-circuit video of the arrest of Gulina, released by the Russian customs authorities, shows that the drug dog smelled something abnormal in her luggage. Customs officers then checked it with an X-ray machine and found cannabis oil and smoking equipment.
According to Russian law, Glynna could face up to five to 10 years in prison.
Gelena ’ s manager said he was aware of Gelena ’ s situation and was in contact with Russian lawyers. Subsequently, the WNBA issued a public statement: “The league will fully support Gelena and will make every effort to get her back home safely. ”
The team, Team USA, also expressed support for Glenna and concern for her personal safety.
At first, the Russian authorities did not release the names of those arrested, only mentioning "two-time Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. basketball players." (Getty Images)
Although the WNBA is the world's top women's basketball league, due to low pay, many players will go to the field during the off-season to "earn extra money".
Gelena is no exception. Since 2014, she has been working part-time in the higher artificial Russian league, and has won four championships, so she travels between the two places from time to time.
Glenna flies from New York to Russia in February. (Getty Images)
Although the WNBA is the world 's top women' s basketball league, due to low pay, many players will go out during the off-season to "earn extra money". (Getty Images)

At the time of her arrest, Russian authorities did not initially disclose her name, only referring to her as a U.S. basketball player with two Olympic gold medals; however, Griner’s manager and Team USA expressed immediate concern and support for her.

Griner, like many WNBA players who face relatively low pay in the U.S., regularly traveled to Russia during the off-season to supplement her income and had played in the Russian league since 2014, winning four championships.

Labor camp conditions in Russia, shaped by their Soviet-era origins, are known to be harsher than regular prisons, with reports of overcrowded barracks, lack of hot water, inadequate clothing, scarce medicine, and poor healthcare, as attested by victims and activists.

Title:

Content: International
International news.
The camps are worse than the prisons.
A Russian court on Thursday sentenced U.S. basketball star Britney Galina to prison in a penal colony that U.S. media say treats inmates worse than prisons, where guards intimidate inmates, who are sometimes forced to work as long as 16 hours a day.
The camps evolved from Soviet-era labor camps and are now scattered in different parts of Siberia, many of them in barracks. Although the treatment of prisoners has improved, they are still accused of brutality, overcrowding and poor conditions.
A member of the Russian anti-government band Pussy Riot said in 2012 that she had served a prison term without hot water, warm clothes or medicine, and that people who were sick could die.
Last year, Navalny, the leader of Russia ’ s largest opposition party, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for violating the conditions of a suspended sentence for corruption in 2014.
In an interview with the New York Times last year, he said that the prison schedule included five hours of daily television viewing, and prisoners were forced to watch national television and propaganda films.
Former prisoners said they were being abused and forced to watch propaganda films.
Konstantin Kotov, a Russian activist who served 18 months in a detention facility, told the Associated Press last year that prison guards at the facility intimidated prisoners for trivial matters, such as failing to greet police officers.
Prisoners are required to stand for seven to eight hours, sit upright, with their feet folded, and their arms resting on their knees without any movement. Even scratching their noses requires permission from the inmates who are responsible for reporting the behavior of the prisoners to the prison guards.
William Pomeranz, a Russian research expert at the Kennan Institute at the Washington think tank Wilson Center, said many of the places were isolated in Siberia, where she did not know anyone, was difficult for outsiders to visit, and the environment could be harsh, and if she was sent there, it would be a great test for her mental state.
(New York Times / Newsweek)
Related words: Brittney Griner in Russia
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Those detained in such camps, including high-profile prisoners like members of Pussy Riot, risk severe deprivation and even death due to lack of medical care.

In Griner’s case, Western media and former athletes such as Becky Hammon characterized her arrest as politically motivated, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin intended to use Griner as leverage during heightened tensions caused by the war in Ukraine.

Title:

Content: Former Russian Olympic bronze medallist Becky Hammon has publicly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s improper tactics when he was sentenced to nine years in prison by a Russian court. Becky Hammon believes that Putin caught her to use her as a political pawn, and that ordinary people can ’ t play with Putin.
Becky Harmon said: "Before athletes go to Russia, think twice, you may suddenly be caught as a prisoner of war or a political pawn."
It ’ s hard for you to play against someone who doesn ’ t play the cards (Putin), who has illegally invaded a country, illegally detained a person, and he ’ s not following the rules, ” she tweeted, “It ’ s heartbreaking. ”
In fact, in a way, Becky Harmon is also using Russia to realize her basketball dreams.
She was not good in high school, and scouts thought she was too short and too slow (168 cm), and later dropped out of the WNBA draft.
She played in the Jones Cup in Taiwan in 1998, and later struggled to play for the New York Liberty in the WNBA.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Becky Harmon was not selected for the United States women's basketball team, so she switched to represent Russia, causing huge controversy.
"I'm wearing a Russian jersey, but I'm still 100% American in my heart, and I love our country, and this is my chance to realize my Olympic dream," she told the media at the time.
The salary of Russian women's basketball is much higher than the WNBA, and the temptation of American women is very strong. Becky Harmon and Graina have both played in Russia, and this event is so big, and the women players have less money.
For Putin, catching a sports star like Graina is valuable and a chance to get back to their arms dealer in the United States.
# Russia # Becky Harmon # WNBA # Putin # Graina

The U.S. government undertook diplomatic efforts to secure Griner’s release amid increasing international condemnation of her sentencing, and after months of negotiation, she was exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in a high-profile prisoner swap.

Her incarceration and the circumstances of her detention highlighted the intersection of sports, gender, and geopolitics, with many seeing her as a pawn in a broader strategic confrontation between the U.S. and Russia.

Upon returning to the United States, Griner faced the challenge of readjusting to normal life after enduring harsh prison conditions and the psychological trauma of being at the center of an international political standoff.

Title:

Content: East and White Russian sprinter woman to seek asylum in Poland
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(AFP, Warsaw) Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya arrived in Poland today and is expected to seek asylum there.
She has previously stated that her life would be in danger if forced to return to the country.
Tsimanoskaya, 24, was scheduled to compete in the women's 200 meters sprint preliminaries at the Tokyo Olympics on the second day, but on the first day she claimed that after publicly criticizing her coach, she was forced to go to the airport by the team to return to her country, but she refused to board the plane and immediately asked for help from the East Olympic staff.
Things turned around today, and Zimanoskaya made a last-minute change, deciding not to board a flight to Warsaw and later to Vienna, the Austrian capital.
Before leaving Tokyo, Zimanoskaya spent two nights at the Polish embassy, seeking international assistance, and was later granted a humanitarian visa.
She was welcomed at the airport by Austrian Minister Magnus Brunner.
Brenner told reporters that she changed her path to leave Japan for “security reasons. ”
Brenner said that Zimanoskaya seemed to be "fully aware of the situation" and that "she was worried about her family, she was very tired, and she was naturally very nervous after what happened in the last few days."
He said she was “nervous and didn ’ t know how things would go now. ”
Zimanoskaya then boarded a LOT Polish Ailines flight and arrived in Warsaw at 8: 11 p.m.
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz tweeted that Zimanoskaya had "arrived safely in Warsaw."
After the plane landed, she did not have access to the terminal by regular passengers, but she did meet with Pavel Latushka, a Belarusian opposition figure, at the airport building.
Ratushko posted a photo of herself with Chimanoskaya on Twitter, tweeting: “We hope that the suffering of this regime will soon end and that Chimanoskaya will return to New Belarus and rise to a new sporting peak. ”

Griner’s ordeal underscored the vulnerabilities of women athletes working abroad and the ways in which governments can exploit celebrity athletes for political ends.