Griner, 31, is a championship-winning participant with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and spends her offseasons enjoying for the Russian staff UMMC Ekaterinburg.
The Russian Federal Customs Provider mentioned an American at Sheremetyevo Airport was once sporting hash oil. Russia’s Interfax Information Company quoted a remark from the Customs Provider, which failed to establish the traveler by way of identify:
“As a US citizen was once passing throughout the inexperienced channel at Sheremetyevo Airport upon coming back from New York, a running canine from the Sheremetyevo customs dog division detected the conceivable presence of narcotic ingredients within the accompanying baggage,” the remark mentioned.
“The customs inspection of the hand baggage being carried by way of america citizen showed the presence of vapes with in particular smelling liquid, and knowledgeable made up our minds that the liquid was once hashish oil (hash oil), which is a narcotic substance.”
A member of america Space Armed Services and products Committee mentioned “it’ll be very tricky” to get Griner out of Russia.
“Our diplomatic relationships with Russia are nonexistent in this day and age,” Democratic Rep. John Garamendi of California advised CNN on Monday.
“In all probability throughout the more than a few negotiations that can happen, she may be able to be some of the answers. I do not know.”
He additionally famous that “Russia has some very, very strict LGBT laws and regulations” — despite the fact that it is not transparent whether or not the ones laws and regulations would possibly have an effect on Griner’s case.
Masses petition for Griner’s unencumber
Journalist Tamryn Spruill, who covers girls’s basketball, began the web petition Saturday.
“Griner is a liked international citizen who has used her platform since her access into the WNBA to lend a hand others,” Spruill wrote at the petition’s internet web page.
“Griner was once in Russia for paintings: enjoying for UMMC Ekaterinburg, the place in 2021 she helped the staff win its 5th EuroLeague Girls championship.”
Spruill defined why many feminine skilled basketball gamers in america paintings out of the country. “Like many athletes competing within the WNBA, Griner performs in a foreign country throughout the WNBA offseason as a result of her wage is exponentially upper in different international locations,” Spruill wrote.
“For WNBA gamers, that suggests enjoying in a foreign country, whilst NBA beginners who have not performed a certified sport but are passed salaries many-times upper that what title-winning, All-Superstar designated WNBA veterans may just ever hope for,” the petition says.
“Those realities aren’t the fault of the gamers. They just wish to be paid their price like their male opposite numbers, and they don’t need to be entangled in geopolitical turmoil for doing so.”
An unsure long run
On Saturday, she thanked supporters in a publish and requested for privateness.
“I needless to say a lot of you could have grown to like BG through the years and feature issues and wish main points,” Cherelle Griner wrote. “Please honor our privateness as we proceed to paintings on getting my spouse house safely.”
However Griner’s destiny stays unclear.
A felony case has been opened towards america citizen arrested, Interfax reported, bringing up Russia’s customs carrier.
A spokesperson for america State Division mentioned the company is “acutely aware of experiences of a US citizen arrested in Moscow.”
“Every time a US citizen is arrested out of the country, we stand able to supply all suitable consular services and products,” the spokesperson advised CNN on Saturday.
CNN has reached out to Griner’s consultant for remark.
Enjoying in Russia for years
Griner has performed with Russia’s UMMC Ekaterinburg since 2015 throughout the WNBA offseason. In 5 video games this season, she has averaged 13.2 issues and four.2 rebounds in line with sport.
Griner could also be a two-time medalist on the FIBA Girls’s Basketball International Championship with Staff USA.
USA Basketball, the Girls’s Nationwide Basketball Affiliation (WNBA), the Mercury and the WNBA gamers’ union publicly shared their issues for Griner.
USA Basketball, the governing frame for recreation in the US, mentioned it’s “acutely aware of and carefully tracking the criminal scenario dealing with Brittney Griner in Russia. Brittney has all the time treated herself with the maximum professionalism throughout her lengthy tenure with USA Basketball and her protection and wellbeing are our number one issues.”
The WNBA mentioned Griner has its “complete give a boost to,” including its major precedence is “her swift and secure go back to the US.”
The Girls’s Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation mentioned it’s “acutely aware of the placement in Russia relating to considered one of our participants, Brittney Griner.”
“Our utmost worry is BG’s protection and well-being,” the WNBPA mentioned. “We will be able to proceed to carefully track and look ahead to her go back to america.”
The Phoenix Mercury mentioned it’s “carefully tracking the placement with Brittney Griner in Russia” as they continue to be in “consistent touch together with her circle of relatives, her illustration, the WNBA and NBA. We like and give a boost to Brittney and at the moment our major worry is her protection, bodily and psychological well being, and her secure go back house.”
CNN’s Lisa France contributed to this record.
