Brittney Griner, a professional American basketball player, was detained in Russia in 2022 for marijuana possession and faced up to 10 years in prison for drug smuggling.

Her detention is seen as a political bargaining chip by Russia, with the Kremlin denying any political motivation, but her family and many others believed she was a pawn in a political wrangle.

The US government considered Griner "wrongfully detained" by Russia and worked to secure her release, with President Joe Biden involved in negotiations and the US State Department actively engaged in her case.

Griner's arrest and detention were seen as a political move, with the US government urging Russia to release her and criticizing the country's judicial system.

The WNBA Players Association called Griner's sentence excessive, and her case sparked an outcry from US athletes and government officials, who urged the US President to support Griner.

Griner was eventually released from Russian prison as part of a prisoner swap for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer, and her release marks a significant development in the strained relations between the US and Russia.

After her release, Griner returned to the US and adjusted to life back home, playing in her first game back with the Phoenix Mercury and scoring 10 points and 3 rebounds.

Griner's case has implications for women's sports and female athletes, particularly in regards to the intersection of sports, politics, and gender issues, and highlights the need for greater support and protection for female athletes.

The US government's efforts to free Griner were extensive, with Secretary of State and CIA Director involved in negotiations with Russian authorities, and her release was ultimately secured through a prisoner swap.

Griner's experience in the Russian penitentiary system was marked by difficulties due to the language barrier, and she may have faced challenges in protecting herself, but she maintained her spirits and expressed gratitude for the support she received from fans and the US government.

Griner's story has sparked outrage and concern about the treatment of American citizens in Russian prisons, and has highlighted the need for improved diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The US government has warned Americans not to travel to Russia, citing the risk of arrest and detention, and Griner's case has raised concerns about the treatment of female athletes and athletes of color when traveling internationally.

Griner's detention and release have had significant political implications, with the US government negotiating her release and the WNBA improving pay and travel standards for players, highlighting the need for greater support and protection for female athletes.

Griner has become an advocate for wrongfully detained citizens, using her platform to raise awareness and support for those who do not have the same media coverage, and her case has led to increased awareness and support for female athletes, LGBTQ+ athletes, and athletes of color.

The WNBA has implemented policy changes as a result of Griner's case, including improved pay and travel standards for players, and the league has allowed private flights for back-to-back games and playoff games.

Griner's case has also highlighted the issue of unequal pay in the US, which leads some athletes to travel abroad for better opportunities, and the need for greater support and protection for female athletes and athletes of color.

The US government's response to Griner's case has set a precedent for addressing the issues of wrongful detention, unequal pay, and limited opportunities for female athletes, with a renewed focus on supporting American citizens and promoting fairness and equality.

Griner's experience has led to increased awareness and precautions for female athletes and athletes of color traveling internationally, with a focus on improving travel standards and providing support systems to protect them from similar experiences.

The international sports community has been criticized for not doing enough to support athletes like Griner, who are detained or arrested while competing abroad, and the need for greater support and protection for female athletes and athletes of color has been highlighted.

The IOC has condemned Russia's "Friendship Games" as politicizing sport, and has urged athletes and governments not to participate in Russia-organized competitions, highlighting the need for international sports bodies to take a stronger stance on issues related to athlete safety and detention.

Female athletes face unique challenges in international competitions, including balancing their careers and family life, and supporting them with family planning is crucial, with initiatives such as the "Unite for Gender Equality" campaign launched by FIFA and UN Women aiming to promote gender equality and address discrimination.

Overall, Griner's case has highlighted the need for greater support and protection for female athletes and athletes of color, and the importance of addressing the intersection of sports, politics, and gender issues in international competitions.

Brittney Griner, a professional American basketball player, was detained in Russia in 2022 for marijuana possession and faced up to 10 years in prison for drug smuggling.

Title:

Content: Former WNBA star Brittney Griner, who won two U.S. Olympic gold medals in women's basketball, has pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs into Russia and faces up to 10 years in prison.
The 31-year-old female athlete was arrested at a Moscow airport in February after cannabis oil was found in her luggage and has been held on suspicion of drug smuggling.
According to the Russian state news agency, Graina pleaded guilty in court, but stressed that she did not intentionally violate the law. Graina said through an interpreter that she did not intentionally carry drugs, but that she accidentally brought them in when she was rushing to pack her bags.
After the court, she left without making any comment to reporters, and the next hearing was set for July 14.
Elizabeth Rood, deputy US ambassador to Moscow, told reporters after the hearing that she had spoken to Graina in court and said, “She ’ s in good spirits, she can eat, she can rest, she can study, and I think she ’ s doing very well under the circumstances. ”
"I reiterate the commitment of the United States government to bring Ms. Greene and all American citizens detained for the wrong reasons home safely," Rudd said.
Russian prosecutors accused her of smuggling less than a gram of sesame oil, so in the United States, she was used as a political bargaining chip by Russia.
Russia ’ s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, was angered by the United States ’ characterization of Graina as “wrongly arrested ” and warned that“ attempts by the United States to propagate false statements will not help solve the problem. ”
Since the two scheduled witnesses did not appear, Graina ’ s trial was adjourned, and her temporary detention was granted until December 20, a delay that has been commonplace in Russian courts and seen as prolonging negotiations with the United States.
News outlets have repeatedly speculated that Graina could be used as a prisoner swap, such as Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer known as the “merchant of death, ” who has regularly supplied arms to guerrilla groups for decades, and who is said to have been partly referenced in the character archetypes of the film King of Arms.
Bout was arrested in Thailand in 2008 and extradited to the United States in 2010, where he was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Another possible candidate is Paul Nicholas Whelan, a former Marine Corps security chief who was convicted by Russia of conspiring to become a spy and sentenced to 16 years.
Brittney Griner pleads guilty to drug charges in Russian court
# Glenna # Russia # USA # Confession # WNBA

Her detention is seen as a political bargaining chip by Russia, with the Kremlin denying any political motivation, but her family and many others believed she was a pawn in a political wrangle.

Title:

Content: U.S. basketball player Gina Greiner sent a letter to Biden asking for help.
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Brittney Griner, a two-time U.S. Olympic gold medallist who has been imprisoned in a Russian prison for more than four months, has written to U.S. President Joe Biden asking him to help free herself and other Americans who have lost their freedom to return home.
The U.S. women's professional basketball team (WNBA) star Alan Greener was arrested in Russia in February and charged with trying to smuggle electronic cigarettes containing cannabis oil into Russia.
The trial began on July 1 and the next hearing will be held on July 7.
Greener sent the letter to the White House through a representative on Independence Day the day before yesterday.
In her letter, she wrote: “On July 4, family members usually commemorate those martyrs who fought for our freedom, including my father, who was a Vietnam veteran.
It is painful to think of how I have celebrated this day in the past, because freedom has taken on a whole different meaning for me this year.
She told Biden in the letter that she feared she would never get out of prison. "I was sitting in a Russian prison.
Alone, without a partner, family, friends, Olympic aura or anything, I'm afraid I'll never get out.
Greiner helped Phoenix Mercury win the U.S. women's basketball championship in 2014, and also won the league's scoring crown twice, and was selected as the All-Star center eight times.
She has spent the past few years playing in Russia during the U.S. season, and just days after her arrest, Russian troops began to invade Ukraine.
Greiner's family said she was "just a pawn in a political wrangle."
U.S. National Security Adviser David Sullivan said last week that Greiner was being held inappropriately in Russia and that officials were actively assisting her in her release and return home.
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The US government considered Griner "wrongfully detained" by Russia and worked to secure her release, with President Joe Biden involved in negotiations and the US State Department actively engaged in her case.

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Content: 2 hours ago - World

Russian court again extends Brittney Griner's detention

A Russian court extended American basketball star Brittney Griner's detention for a second time on Tuesday, meaning she will remain in custody until at least July 2, according to Russian state media.

Why it matters: Griner has been in pre-trial detention since she was detained at a Moscow-area airport in February after authorities claimed that they found vape cartridges with cannabis oil in her luggage.

  • She was charged with drug smuggling, and her detention has now been extended two times.
  • The U.S. State Department considers Griner "wrongfully detained" by Russia.
  • It has also warned other Americans to not travel to Russia because the Kremlin may be specifically targeting Americans for arrest, potentially for the purpose of exchanging them for Russians held in American prisons.

The big picture: Former Marine Trevor Reed, who was held in a Russian prison since 2019 before being released in April, called on the Biden administration and Congress last week to increase efforts to release Griner, even if it means more prisoner swaps.

  • Reed warned that Griner may face greater challenges inside Russia's prison system than he did because of her race and sexual orientation.

Go deeper: Brittney Griner's wife urges Biden to bring detained player home

Go deeper

Griner's arrest and detention were seen as a political move, with the US government urging Russia to release her and criticizing the country's judicial system.

Title:

Content: WNBA star Brittney Griner is now in a foreign country, has been in prison for 100 days, the league players' union wrote a letter on the 29th asking US President Joe Biden to use his influence to get Griner out of a Russian prison. The WNBA also called on netizens to sign "We are all Griner" t-shirts, some players also wearing slogans to support Griner. Na, look forward to President Biden's attention.
In February this year, Glenna was found to be carrying marijuana e-cigarettes at Moscow airport by drug dogs and X-ray machines, and Russian officials also released CCTV images. Since then, Glenna has been detained and has not been heard from since, when Russia had not invaded Ukraine.
After the Russian-Ukrainian conflict broke out, the United States publicly supported Ukraine, and WNBA players worried that Graina would become a political prisoner.
U.S. President Joe Biden announced this month that Graina had been “unlawfully detained ” after Russia reportedly offered to exchange prisoners for the release of notorious arms smuggler Viktor Bout.
The petition website WeAreBG said: "Like many WNBA players, two-time Olympic gold medalist Glana traveled outside the season to play in other countries because of her love of basketball and unequal pay, and because of the unequal pay in the United States, she was illegally detained in Russia."
She is now unable to seek help from a lawyer, is being treated inhumanely and has lost contact with her family and friends.
In order to protect the safety of athletes developing overseas, the U.S. government must pay attention to this human rights issue and help Graina return home safely as soon as possible. ”
However, the petition website did not mention Graina's behavior in carrying marijuana to the border, and many American netizens criticized "not respecting the laws of other countries" and "drug users should pay the price."
※ China Times News Network reminds you: Stay away from drugs and protect your family!
# Glenna # WNBA # Biden # Russia # USA

The WNBA Players Association called Griner's sentence excessive, and her case sparked an outcry from US athletes and government officials, who urged the US President to support Griner.

Title:

Content: US women's basketball center jailed in Russia for 9 years appeal rejected by WNBA union as a political pawn
Author: Li Jianming
Published: Updated:
Brittney Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist for the United States, was arrested in Russia in February for possession of drugs and sentenced to nine years in prison by a local court.
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She won two Olympic gold medals for the United States.
(Getty Images)
In February this year, Glenna went to Russia during the WNBA season to play for the world team to "earn extra money", but she was arrested at the airport after she was found to have cannabis oil and smoking tools in her luggage.
Glenna is in her cell and is being interrogated via live video. (Associated Press)
In August, a Russian court found Gulina guilty of possession of drugs and sentenced her to nine years in prison. Gulina appealed against her sentence, but was recently rejected by a local court.
Her defense lawyer expressed disappointment with the verdict, saying that in similar cases, the sentence is usually five years, and even in some cases, he will discuss the next move with Gulina.
The WNBA Players Association said in a statement that Glenna ’ s sentence was excessive and that her appeal was dismissed showed that Glenna had not only been wrongly detained, but that “she was clearly a hostage. ”
The union also called on U.S. President Joe Biden, FIBA and others to continue to voice their support for Glenna and bring her back to the United States, saying "no athlete should be treated as a political pawn."

Griner was eventually released from Russian prison as part of a prisoner swap for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer, and her release marks a significant development in the strained relations between the US and Russia.

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Content: Categories
Finance

Inside Joe Biden’s Faustian pact with Russia to secure Brittney

Three weeks ago, the American basketball star Brittney Griner arrived at a Russian penal colony known for torture, beatings and slave labour to begin a nine-year sentence following her arrest at a Moscow airport in February for possession of vaping cartridges containing hashish oil.

But in a stunning twist on Thursday, Griner’s plight as an unwitting pawn in a high-stakes geopolitical struggle came to an abrupt end, as she arrived in Abu Dhabi from Moscow and boarded a plane home to reunite with her family. She landed in San Antonio, Texas, early Friday morning.

In exchange for Griner’s release, the US released Viktor Bout, a notorious arms trafficker who was serving a 25-year sentence for conspiring to kill US citizens and aiding a terrorist organisation.

The deal was met with jubilation from Griner’s family and supporters. But the controversial swap for Bout — as well as the exclusion of Paul Whelan, another US citizen imprisoned in Russia — also drew criticism and raised questions about how America’s adversaries might leverage arrests of its citizens in the future.

US officials began working toward Griner’s release as soon as she was apprehended in Russia in February, but the effort became more concentrated on prisoner swap negotiations once the State Department declared in May that she had been wrongfully detained.

In July, US secretary of state Antony Blinken and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov spoke on the phone for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February. During the call, Blinken pressed Lavrov to accept a “substantial proposal” from Washington to release Griner and the former marine Whelan, who has been detained in Russia since 2018 on what the US and his family say are trumped-up espionage charges.

Americans had offered to free Bout, people familiar with the discussions said, but the Russians said they also wanted the release of Vadim Krasikov, a former colonel from Russia’s domestic spy agency who was convicted of murder in Germany last year.

In the ensuing months, officials said, Washington made a number of offers to Russia in an attempt to secure the release of Griner and Whelan.

However, Biden administration officials said that in recent weeks it became clear that Moscow would only accept a one-for-one swap. According to one senior administration official, “the choice was bringing Brittney Griner home right now or bringing no Americans home from Russia right now”.

Despite the Biden administration’s insistence that they had no choice but to exclude Whelan from the deal, Republican lawmakers and others denounced the decision, as well as facilitating the release of Bout, who is also known as “the merchant of death”.

“The Biden administration has allowed Viktor Bout, a dangerous arms dealer who was convicted of conspiring to kill American law enforcement, to walk free,” said Mike Rogers, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee.

“This move to appease Vladimir Putin will only encourage further hostage taking by Russian security forces,” he added.

US officials described Biden’s choice as a painful one, adding that they would continue to work for Whelan’s release. Washington previously secured the release of Trevor Reed, another former marine, via a prisoner swap in April.

People familiar with Thursday’s prisoner exchange likened the episode to “a scene from the Cold War”, with Russian and American planes meeting on the tarmac at an airport in Abu Dhabi.

The Russian plane carrying Griner arrived first, one of the people said. American officials and people familiar with the events said the basketball star was upbeat on the tarmac, saying she was looking forward to returning home.

The Griner-Bout swap marks a rare instance in which the US and Russia have been able to find common ground since Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sending the west’s relationship with Moscow to its lowest ebb since the Cuban missile crisis.

According to people familiar with the matter, the Americans and Russians directly negotiated the details of the swaps, with UAE officials including president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan helping to facilitate the mechanics of the transfer.

It is not unusual for third countries to aid in brokering international diplomatic agreements such as prisoner swaps between hostile countries.

Sheikh Mohammed and Putin discussed the matter when they met in Russia in October, and they spoke on the phone on Wednesday, people familiar with the meetings said. Yousef al-Otaiba, UAE ambassador to the US, was present for the exchange on Thursday and had helped to co-ordinate details on the American side.

On Thursday, some pro-Kremlin commentators hailed the swap as a return to diplomacy. “Everyone sees through this exchange that Moscow and Washington are holding secret negotiations and can make a deal,” Sergei Markov, a political scientist and former member of Russia’s parliament, wrote on Telegram. “And everyone hopes that means Moscow and Washington can make a deal to end the war in Ukraine.”

However, analysts and US officials said that while the breakthrough was a sign that the two sides could get things done when their interests align, it was not evidence of any larger thaw in relations. Biden administration officials added that the recent conversations with Russia about Griner and other prisoners were limited to the release of wrongfully detained Americans.

“The exchange doesn’t do anything to change the situation for bilateral relations. There are lots of issues where they are in open confrontation,” said Alexander Gabuev, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

He said the otherwise dire state of relations between Russia and the west was thrown into sharp relief last week, when Moscow abruptly pulled out of talks on renewing the New Start treaty, the only remaining agreement governing the countries’ nuclear arsenals.

“This is a global stability issue: the last remainders of arms control are falling apart, which could lead to an arms race and a higher risk of dangerous incidents,” he said. “The trajectory we’re on is making that all the more likely.”

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After her release, Griner returned to the US and adjusted to life back home, playing in her first game back with the Phoenix Mercury and scoring 10 points and 3 rebounds.

Title:

Content: WNBA: Brittney Griner makes first comeback after being jailed in Russia: 'It's a miracle she's back here'
Author: Wu Muer
Published: Updated:
American star center Brittney Griner, who was imprisoned in Russia for 10 months, returned to the United States for the first time since being released in December to play for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA pre-season warm-up.
Even if the team is 71: 90 against the Los Angeles Sparks, Glenna's performance is still a long way from the level of the game, no one cares about the result, coach Vanessa Nygaard and Mercury teammates are excited, opponents of the Sparks players tightly hugged her, Glenna said this battle is significant, saying: "Never take any day for granted."
Glenna (right) returns to basketball for the first time since returning to the United States. (Reuters)
Glenna, 32, is one of the most famous female basketball stars in the United States. She was selected to the WNBA star team eight times and won the Olympic gold medal twice for the United States.
Possession of cannabis is illegal in Russia, but the standard penalty for possession of cannabis oil under 2 grams or cannabis under 6 grams is a fine or imprisonment for up to 15 days.
The United States initially attempted diplomatic mediation without success, alleging that Glenna was "illegally arrested" by the Russian side, and the incident became a new chapter in the political turmoil between the United States and Russia.
In September last year, a Russian court sentenced Glenna to nine years in prison. After her appeal was dismissed, the United States and Russia finally reached a prisoner exchange agreement and were released from prison on December 8.
She has returned to the team training earlier, Saturday for the first time in the game, is selected to play 17 minutes, the first minute has scored two points, the 6 feet 9 inches of the center long sparrow, the performance inevitably has a "rust" sense, 5 shot 2, with the penalty ball scored 10 points, and 3 rebounds, she knows that the distance from the best state is still far, after a disaster she said: Sitting here, I never thought I could play basketball so quickly. "
Glenna took part in a live video interrogation at a Russian prison last year. (AP)
“I don ’ t know what will happen, but I ’ m grateful to be here. ”
I won ’ t take it for granted any day since, ” she said. “Hearing the national anthem again feels completely different. ”
It's like being in the Olympics, you sit there, the gold medal is about to wear the neck, the national flag is raised, the national anthem is played, and the feeling is very different. "
For the first time since 2021, Glenna is competing in a Mercury suit. “Being here today means a lot … it feels good, it definitely feels appreciated. ”
I can ’ t wait to get back to a day where it was just basketball. ” Yes, because everyone was completely distracted by her return to the game, even the team ’ s head coach.
Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard said that the national anthem and the introduction of the moment, the whole team is excited, "we look at each other, the chicken skin straight up."
Last year we had everything here all year, and now I ’ m starting to feel emotional.
It was an absolute miracle just to see Glenna come out again, it was amazing, and it made me skin again. ”
Glenna has twice won Olympic gold medals for the United States, including the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. (Getty Images)
Glinna's return to the field also rekindled Mercury's hopes for the title.
She was the 2013 WNBA draft pick, was selected by Mercury and has been playing since then, winning the team's third WNBA championship in 2014. She averaged 17.7 points and 7.6 rebounds in nine years of WNBA career, and Mercury won the final of the playoffs for three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018.
In 2022, the team lost to Glenna, and the team was defeated by the Las Vegas Aces in the first round of the playoffs 0: 2.
In the comeback war, Glenna did not perform as expected, thinking that she was detained in Russia for 10 months, during which time she was interrogated, sentenced to heavy prison, imprisoned in a mysterious prison where the outside world can not know the location, coupled with lack of language, psychological torture and suffering, to be able to step out of the field is actually a victory.
She confessed, “It ’ s far from what I hoped, but it ’ s back on track, and we ’ re doing the right thing. ”
The WNBA 2023 regular season kicks off on Friday, May 19, with Mercury playing against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Greta returned to the game for the first time with a lot of expressions:
+ 1

Griner's case has implications for women's sports and female athletes, particularly in regards to the intersection of sports, politics, and gender issues, and highlights the need for greater support and protection for female athletes.

The US government's efforts to free Griner were extensive, with Secretary of State and CIA Director involved in negotiations with Russian authorities, and her release was ultimately secured through a prisoner swap.

Title:

Content: Lawyer: Greener sent to Russian exile to serve his sentence
WASHINGTON (AFP) - A lawyer for U.S. women's professional basketball player Brittney Griner said today that Griner has been sent to a remote Russian penal colony to serve his sentence.
Her situation has sparked outrage in the United States.
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Greiner, 32, was arrested at a Moscow airport in February and sentenced to nine years in prison in August for entering Russia with an e-cigarette case containing a small amount of cannabis oil.
This comes at a time when US-Russian relations are highly strained by Russia ’ s military presence in Ukraine.
"Britney began serving her sentence at IK-2 in Mordovia," Greiner's lawyers Maria Blagovolina and Alexander Boykov said in a statement.
The lawyers said that when they visited this week, Greiner was in good condition, trying to stay strong and adapt to the new environment, and they would not provide further comment "given that this is a very difficult period for her."
U.S. President Joe Biden said last week he wanted Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate "more seriously" the release of Greenner.
"My aim was to get her home, and we've had multiple discussions so far," Biden said at the time.
The White House said that CIA Director William Burns and Russian Foreign Intelligence Director Sergei Naryshkin had a rare face-to-face meeting in Ankara, Turkey, on Thursday to discuss the threat of nuclear weapons in Ukraine and American citizens imprisoned by Russia.

Griner's experience in the Russian penitentiary system was marked by difficulties due to the language barrier, and she may have faced challenges in protecting herself, but she maintained her spirits and expressed gratitude for the support she received from fans and the US government.

Title:

Content: Former prisoner in Russian punishment colony reveals to CNN what American Grainer can expect after 9 years in prison
The world.
Publish
Nadezhda Tolokonikova, from the group "Female Riot", spent nearly two years in a penal colony after demonstrating against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Tolokonikova explained what American basketball player Britney Grainer could expect after she was sentenced to nine years in prison for drug trafficking and shared the harsh conditions that occur in the Russian penal colonies.
Tolokonikova said she believed it would be “particularly difficult for Britney because she doesn ’ t know Russian, she can ’ t learn the law she has to abide by in the penal colony, and she can ’ t protect herself. ”
“The worst thing about a penal colony is watching the death of others around you and not being able to do anything.
People die from hard physical work and not being able to get the medical treatment they need.
But you're just another prisoner.
You can't do anything about it.
You just have to witness this cruelty and know that something like this can happen to you as well. ”
Tolokonikova revealed the motivation that kept her alive, saying: "The most important thing now is to minimize the trauma that she will endure during this time period.
Thinking about your loved ones who are waiting for you and who need you, don ’ t give up on your life.
Things like finding a beautiful flower and thinking that this beautiful flower was able to grow in these terrible and terrifying conditions in this nightmarish world prompted me to stay alive and not lose faith that there would be life outside the punitive colony. ”
Tolokonikova concluded: “I hope Britney will come home as soon as possible and experience as little trauma as possible in her condition.
I ’ m really looking forward to reuniting her with her family. ”

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Content: Filed under:

Brittney Griner speaks to fans from her detention in Russian prison

On her 32nd birthday, Griner releases a statement to inform the #WeAreBG movement that their efforts are helping her cope.

It’s been tough to follow the story of Brittney Griner’s continued detention in Russia without feeling a sense of helplessness and wondering what can be done to help her. There have been few if any glimmers of hope in her situation — Russian prisons don’t really do hope.

But Griner just released a statement to her fans for the first time since she was arrested for possessing a vape pen with hashish oil back in February. And based on what she said, everyone’s efforts on her behalf are being heard and it is helping her make it through an otherwise bleak situation.

As CNN’s Ana Cabrera reported on Twitter, Griner’s message through her lawyer read: “Thank you everyone for fighting so hard to get me home. All the support and love are definitely helping me.”

Griner’s statement was sent out on her 32nd birthday on Tuesday. Throughout the day, the support and love she referenced was echoed throughout the sports world, with several prominent figures using their platform to amplify the #WeAreBG cause.

Billie Jean King reminded all of her followers that Griner has spent eight months living under unlawful detention.

The WNBA vowed to be front and center in continuing the fight to help secure her release and left it abundantly clear that there is a void in their league without her presence.

During the Golden State Warriors’ championship ring ceremony on their opening night, Stephen Curry told a capacity crowd that, “We want to continue to let her name be known…it’s been 243 days since she’s been wrongfully incarcerated in Russia. We hope that she comes home soon and everybody’s doing their part to get her home.”

Curry’s words were amplified by Christina Kahrl.

Finally, the Phoenix Mercury commemorated Griner’s birthday by showing everyone that although she’s being used as a pawn in a Kafkaesque nightmare, it’s important to remember all of her other qualities so that we never lose sight of her as a human being.

Let’s all keep fighting to ensure that we see that smile and that joy set free again very soon.

Griner's story has sparked outrage and concern about the treatment of American citizens in Russian prisons, and has highlighted the need for improved diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The US government has warned Americans not to travel to Russia, citing the risk of arrest and detention, and Griner's case has raised concerns about the treatment of female athletes and athletes of color when traveling internationally.

Title:

Content: Brittney Griner: American women’s basketball superstar detained in Russia

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Brittney Griner, one of America’s most decorated women’s basketball players, has been detained by the Russian Federal Customs Service after it said it discovered vape cartridges that contained hashish oil in her luggage at an airport near Moscow.

The Customs Service confirmed in a statement issued on Saturday that the detainee in an incident last month at Sheremetyevo airport was a professional basketball player who played in the Women’s National Basketball Association and had also won two Olympic gold medals with the United States, but did not release the player’s name.

Related: Russia’s NHL hero Alex Ovechkin has a rare chance to hit Putin where it hurts

Russia’s state-run Tass news agency identified the player as Griner, a seven-time All-Star center with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury who helped lead Team USA to gold at the Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games, citing a law enforcement source.

According to the Customs Service statement, drug-sniffing dogs in the airport’s customs area indicated the possible presence of narcotic drugs in the player’s carry-on baggage following her arrival on a flight from New York. A subsequent search of the luggage led to the discovery of the cartridges, a criminal violation under Russian law that carries a sentence of five to 10 years.

The Customs Service also released a video on Saturday in which the airport security services are seen going through the luggage of a passenger identified as Griner.

In a statement to the Guardian, Griner’s agent Lindsay Colas said: “We are aware of the situation with Brittney Griner in Russia and are in close contact with her, her legal representation in Russia, her family, her teams, and the WNBA and NBA.

“As this is an ongoing legal matter, we are not able to comment further on the specifics of her case but can confirm that as we work to get her home, her mental and physical health remain our primary concern.”

The WNBA said in a release that Griner has the league’s “full support” and “our main priority is her swift and safe return to the United States”.

The Mercury echoed those sentiments in a statement issued later Saturday, saying they were “in constant contact” with Griner’s family and their main concern was the player’s safe return.

The 31-year-old Griner, who led Phoenix to the franchise’s third ever title in 2014 and a surprise return to the WNBA finals in October, has also played for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the offseason since 2015, helping the Russian club to three domestic titles and EuroLeague Women championships in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021.

Nearly 90 of the WNBA’s 144 rostered players have spent time playing overseas during this offseason, where the earnings from their foreign clubs often dwarf what they make in the United States. Griner’s annual salary with UMMC of more than $1m per year is roughly quadruple the WNBA’s league maximum of about $228,000.

It is unclear how long Griner has been detained as Saturday’s statement said only that her arrest took place some time in February. She last played for UMMC on 29 January before the league took a two-week international break for Fiba World Cup qualifying and has been inactive on social media since 5 Feburary.

News of Griner being detained comes as Russian forces continue to bomb civilian targets on the 10th day of its invasion of Ukraine and amid heightened tensions between Moscow and the rest of the world. The US president, Joe Biden, has condemned the invasion of Ukraine and pushed a raft of sanctions with other world leaders against Moscow, which he says have left Putin isolated.

On Saturday, the US state department urged US citizens to leave Russia immediately, re-issuing its travel advisory.

Earlier Saturday, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, held an hour-long video call with United States senators in which he called for more support to defend his country from Russia’s invasion.

Rick Scott, a Republican, called for stronger measures against both Russia and its ally Belarus, tweeting that the US should take “EVERY action to destroy their economies”.

Griner is not the first US citizen to have been held in custody by Russian authorities as tensions between the countries have soared, prompting accusations by American officials that Moscow is using the detentions as bargaining chips for a potential prisoner exchange.

In January, Russian officials announced that US teacher Marc Fogel was earlier arrested in a Moscow airport with marijuana and cannabis, accusing the teacher of smuggling drugs into Russia and distributing them among students on a “large scale”.

That revelation followed the detention of two US Marines in separate incidents: Trevor Reed, who was charged with attacking two Russian police officers in a drunken brawl, and Paul Whelan, who was jailed after being convicted on espionage charges.

John Sipher, a national security analyst and veteran of the CIA’s clandestine service, pointed to the “decimated” state of the US embassy in Russia as a complicating factor in Griner’s case.

“There’s been a number of tit-for-tat expulsions over spy cases and the ambassador has been kicked out, so the embassy is under quite a bit of pressure with this crisis,” Sipher said Saturday in an interview on MSNBC. “I think it’s important to publicize her case because that’s the best thing that keeps her safe in this situation, because Russians have a tendency of not treating people very well who are in their custody.”

Griner, a 6ft 9in post player whose nose for the basket is matched only by her shot-blocking prowess, has played her entire nine-year WNBA career with the Mercury after an extraordinary four-year stint at Baylor University, where she led the Bears to an undefeated season and a national championship in 2012. She remains the only NCAA basketball player in history, male or female, to record 2,000 points and 500 blocked shots.

She has also been a trailblazer off the court in her own self-effacing style. Griner matter-of-factly acknowledged that she was a lesbian only days after Phoenix made her the No 1 overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft – becoming one of the few out athletes in American sports at the time and arguably the most prominent – and later revealed that she had been silenced about her sexuality by her college coach over fears that it would hurt recruiting. (The coach did not deny the claim, saying that she was unable to respond specifically due to privacy concerns.)

One of only 11 players to have won NCAA, WNBA, EuroLeague and Olympic titles, Griner is widely regarded as one of the most dominant players of her or any generation.

Griner's detention and release have had significant political implications, with the US government negotiating her release and the WNBA improving pay and travel standards for players, highlighting the need for greater support and protection for female athletes.

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 has become an advocate for wrongfully detained citizens, using her platform to raise awareness and support for those who do not have the same media coverage, and her case has led to increased awareness and support for female athletes, LGBTQ+ athletes, and athletes of color.

Title:

Content: Greiner: I didn ’ t think that the story with me would become so big
Comments
The famous American basketball player Brittney Greiner told about her feelings from returning home after imprisonment in Russia.
“I didn ’ t think that the story with me could become so big.
But that ’ s great, because now I can reach more people and bring them to the WNBA, and also tell them about other prisoners who are still in another country and who we ’ re trying to bring home.
So I ’ m just taking this great opportunity to continue to support those who need it and don ’ t have the attention or media coverage they should receive.
It ’ s a great feeling to wear a Phoenix jersey again.
Just being on the set, feeling it all.
I didn ’ t think it would happen so quickly, I was ready for a long journey, but it ’ s so nice to be here, to be in the media again, to wear this jersey. ”
Materials on the topic
“I didn ’ t deserve it! ”
Greiner had to shut up after returning to the United States
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The WNBA has implemented policy changes as a result of Griner's case, including improved pay and travel standards for players, and the league has allowed private flights for back-to-back games and playoff games.

Griner's case has also highlighted the issue of unequal pay in the US, which leads some athletes to travel abroad for better opportunities, and the need for greater support and protection for female athletes and athletes of color.

The US government's response to Griner's case has set a precedent for addressing the issues of wrongful detention, unequal pay, and limited opportunities for female athletes, with a renewed focus on supporting American citizens and promoting fairness and equality.

Title:

Content: Brittney Griner Urges Biden, 'Don't Forget About Me', in Handwritten Letter.

Brittney Griner Urges Biden, 'Don't Forget About Me', in Handwritten Letter.

The handwritten letter penned by the Phoenix Mercury star was received at the White House in July 4.

I realize you are dealing with so much, Brittney Griner, Letter to President Biden, via CNN.

But please don't forget about me and the other American detainees.

Please do all you can to bring us home, Brittney Griner, Letter to President Biden, via CNN.

Griner has been detained in Russia since February after cannabis oil was allegedly discovered in her luggage.

Her trial for the offense began last week.

Griner also described the fear and pain she is experiencing by being detained in Russia.

I'm terrified I might be here forever, Brittney Griner, Letter to President Biden, via CNN.

On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran.

, Brittney Griner, Letter to President Biden, via CNN.

It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year, Brittney Griner, Letter to President Biden, via CNN.

I believe in you.

I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore, Brittney Griner, Letter to President Biden, via CNN.

A spokesperson for the National Security Council stated July 4 the U.S. position that "the Russian Federation is wrongfully detaining Brittney Griner.".

President Biden has been clear about the need to see all U.S. nationals who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad released, including Brittney Griner.

, Adrienne Watson, National Security Council Spokesperson, via CNN.

The U.S. government continues to work aggressively – using every available means — to bring her home, Adrienne Watson, National Security Council Spokesperson, via CNN.

The President's team is in regular contact with Brittney's family and we will continue to work to support her family, Adrienne Watson, National Security Council Spokesperson, via CNN

Griner's experience has led to increased awareness and precautions for female athletes and athletes of color traveling internationally, with a focus on improving travel standards and providing support systems to protect them from similar experiences.

The international sports community has been criticized for not doing enough to support athletes like Griner, who are detained or arrested while competing abroad, and the need for greater support and protection for female athletes and athletes of color has been highlighted.

The IOC has condemned Russia's "Friendship Games" as politicizing sport, and has urged athletes and governments not to participate in Russia-organized competitions, highlighting the need for international sports bodies to take a stronger stance on issues related to athlete safety and detention.

Title:

Content: "Cynical attempt to politicize sport": IOC strongly condemns holding of "Friendship Games" in Russia
The organization called on athletes and governments not to participate in competitions organized by the aggressor country.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) strongly condemned the holding of the so-called “Friendship Games ” in Russia.
The IOC published a statement on its official website, in which it urged countries not to participate in competitions that the aggressor state organizes against the background of exclusion from international sports due to a full-scale war against Ukraine.
In an international organization, the Russian “Friendship Games ” called“ a cynical attempt to politicize sport ”, and also accused the Russian government of “complete disrespect for world anti-doping standards and honesty of competitions. ”
It is noted that the first summer "Friendship Games" Russians plan to hold in Moscow and Yekaterinburg in September 2024, and winter "Friendship Games" - in 2026 in Sochi.
"The Russian government has launched a very intense diplomatic offensive, involving government delegations and ambassadors, as well as ministerial and other government bodies, addressing governments around the world.
To make their purely political motivation even more obvious, they deliberately bypass sports organizations in the target countries.
This is a flagrant violation of the Olympic Charter and at the same time a violation of various UN resolutions.
This is a cynical attempt by the Russian Federation to politicize sport.
The IOC Athletes Commission, representing all Olympians of the world, is against the use of athletes for political propaganda.
The Commission even sees the risk that their governments will force athletes to participate in such a fully politicized sporting event, thus being used as part of a political propaganda campaign.
The Russian government also shows complete disrespect for global anti-doping standards and the integrity of the competition.
It is the same government that was involved in the systemic doping program at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and later in the manipulation of anti-doping data.
The Olympic Movement strongly condemns any initiative to completely politicize sports, including the creation of fully politicized sports events by the Russian government.
“The IOC urges all stakeholders in the Olympic movement and all governments to refrain from any involvement and support of any initiatives aimed at fully politicizing international sport, ” the IOC said in a statement.
On December 8, 2023, the IOC decided to allow Russians and Belarusians to the 2024 Olympics in neutral status.
They will be able to perform only in personal competitions, while the teams of the aggressor countries will not be allowed.
Also prohibited any national symbols of the Russian Federation and Belarus – hymns, flags, etc.
In addition, Russian and Belarusian athletes who publicly support the war or have contracts with the armies of the aggressor states will not be allowed to participate in the Olympic Games 2024.
The Summer Olympic Games in Paris will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
Read also:
“They will not be able to change the homeland ”: Russian boxers refused to qualify for the 2024 Olympics
Despite the permission of the IOC: the Russians will not perform at the Olympics-2024 in gymnastics
Russian and Belarusian tennis players admitted to the Olympics and Paralympics in neutral status
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Female athletes face unique challenges in international competitions, including balancing their careers and family life, and supporting them with family planning is crucial, with initiatives such as the "Unite for Gender Equality" campaign launched by FIFA and UN Women aiming to promote gender equality and address discrimination.

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Content: Skip to main content
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Olympic champion Jess Fox excited to see 'more possibilities' for female athletes to balance family with career

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Olympic gold medallist Jess Fox says she welcomes sporting bodies making changes that help female athletes juggle their careers with being a parent.

Fox is familiar with the challenges faced by women in sport when they have to balance having children with competing at the elite level.

Her mother, Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi, won bronze for France in canoe slalom at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, two years after giving birth to her daughter.

Fox said athletes such as her mother had proven "what is possible" for future generations.

She said it was "amazing to see the progress" made by sporting bodies to support athletes wishing to start a family without having to retire.

"I probably wasn't thinking of that as an 18-year-old at all, but I saw women who had done it," Fox told ABC Sport.

"It was never something that I thought was impossible, and I feel like I was part of a generation of girls who were seeing more possibilities rather than barriers.

"I think the next generation won't ever have to question these things, so it's good to see different sports evolving in terms of policy and the way they support female athletes if they do want to have children and come back to sport.

"I think it's super important."

Fox said competition and training was her priority at the moment, with the Paris Olympics to be staged next year.

Paris will be the culmination of a truncated Olympic cycle, the result of the 2020 Tokyo Games being delayed by 12 months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fox — who won gold in the slalom C-1 event in Tokyo — said she was not struggling with inspiration ahead of the Paris Olympics.

"I think it still remains just the potential for improvement … and keep learning and to see that I'm still hungry and motivated and excited to be training and racing and enjoying it, most importantly," she said.

"So, Paris is obviously just around the corner and my goal is to qualify and get there."

Fox said she did not have any plans to retire after Paris but the four-time Olympic medallist would take a "year-on-year" approach before deciding on when to end her career.

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Title:

Content: Thursday 27 July 2023 Abu Dhabi UAE
Prayer times
News Highlights
Today 's Issue
Today 's Issue
Athlete
UN and FIFA call for gender equality at World Cup
UN and FIFA call for gender equality at World Cup
July 25, 2023 01: 07
New York (WAM)
UN Women has partnered with FIFA to launch two support and encouragement campaigns for the women ’ s World Cup, which is being hosted by Australia and New Zealand over the course of a month and is expected to be watched by more than 2 billion people around the world.
The first campaign, entitled “Unite for Gender Equality ”, will be the main message at the games between 30 July and 3 August.
The second campaign, "Unite to End Violence Against Women", will be the main message of the semi-finals, which kick off on August 16.
The campaigns will be promoted on female players ’ driving badges, digital billboards in stadiums, huge flags that are used inside the stadiums before matches, huge screens in the stadiums, and via social media.
The partnership aims to celebrate the skills and achievements of teams and players, ensure gender equality in the world of football, and address discrimination on and off stadiums.
The statement stressed the need to address the challenges faced by female players around the world, including the lack of professional opportunities, the salary gap, lack of sponsorship and broadcasting agreements, unequal playing conditions, online and offline abuse campaigns against female players after winning, and other problems.
In its statement, the body noted in particular the initiative of the International Federation of Football (FIFA), which raises the prize money for the Women ’ s World Cup 2023 to $150 million, a figure three times more than in 2019.
All rights reserved to Al Ittihad Newspaper 2023 ©

Overall, Griner's case has highlighted the need for greater support and protection for female athletes and athletes of color, and the importance of addressing the intersection of sports, politics, and gender issues in international competitions.