The Khimki City Court found American basketball player Brittney Griner guilty of drug smuggling and sentenced her to 9 years in a penal colony, Interfax reports .
According to the verdict, Greiner was also fined 1 million rubles.
Two-time Olympic champion Greiner was detained in February 2022 at Sheremetyevo. She was accused of smuggling and illegal transportation of drugs because of vapes with hash oil found on her during the inspection. The prosecution asked for Greiner 9.5 years in prison and a fine.
Earlier, the head coach of the American women's basketball team, Becky Hammon, who previously played for the Russian team, turned to Vladimir Putin with a request to "do the right thing" and release Brittney Griner.
On August 2, the last meeting of the Khimki city court in the Greiner case took place, she pleaded guilty. It was reported that the basketball player faces 5 to 10 years in prison, but she can be exchanged for Russian businessman Viktor Bout, who is serving a 25-year sentence in America on charges of illegal arms trafficking. With such a proposal, US President Joe Biden addressed the Russian authorities.
Greiner is one of the most decorated basketball players in the world. She was a two-time Olympian and two-time world champion with Team USA, and a WNBA champion with Phoenix in 2014. The center is included in the official list of the 25 best players in the women's NBA. He has been playing for the Yekaterinburg UMMC since 2015.