WNBA Star Brittney Griner Pleads Guilty to Drug Charge in Russia, Faces Potential 10-Year Sentence

Brittney Griner continued in Moscow on Tuesday, with her defense team presenting additional evidence to support their position that the basketball player brought cannabis-infused oil cartridges to Russia by accident.Griner's lawyers presented negative drug tests, and a drug expert testified that frequent marijuana users would continue testing positive long after the last use.The expert, Mikhail Tetyushkin, said that medical marijuana is increasingly common in countries around the world, including the United States. He said it is often used by athletes to alleviate pain after sustaining physical trauma, supporting the defense's argument that Griner only used cannabis for medical purposes under doctor's supervision.«It is clear that if the use is constant, it affects the nervous system, decreases the speed of reaction and thinking, decreases physical activity and the ability to perform highly coordinated movements, so professional athletes cannot use them all the time,» Tetyushkin told journalists after the hearing.«The position of the defense is not that Brittany was allowed to bring banned substances into Russia.

Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for months after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage, and it is unclear when she will be able to return to the United States.The Phoenix Mercury player is currently in the middle of a trial in Moscow and faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison if found guilty. Brittney has an uphill battle to have her criminal case acquitted in a trial that experts say is unlikely to be fair and that Russian authorities are using her as a diplomatic bargaining chip amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.The Olympic gold medalist has played in Russia for the last seven winters, earning more than $1 million per season -- more than quadruple her WNBA salary, according to the Associated Press.

Megan Rapinoe took a brief moment at tonight’s ESPYs during her acceptance speech for Best Play honors to acknowledge the plight of the WNBA’s Brittney Griner, currently being held in Russia on drug possession charges.

Stephen Curry is calling for the release of Brittney Griner.

2022 ESPY Awards, Steph Curry used his platform to deliver an impassioned message about Brittney Griner, the imprisoned WNBA star who has spent the past five months behind bars in Russia.Joined by Griner's teammate Skylar Diggins-Smith and fellow WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike, Curry explained said that, amid the night's celebration, they needed to «acknowledge one [athlete] who isn't here» — Griner.«Because Brittney isn't just on the Phoenix Mercury, she isn't just a member of her team in Russia, she isn't just an Olympian, she's one of us — the team of athletes in the room tonight and all over the world, a team that has nothing to do with politics or global conflict,» Curry shared.Ogwumike detailed all of Griner's innumerable accomplishments, sharing, «BG is a WNBA champion, she's an eight-time WNBA all-star, a national champion in college, an Olympic Gold Medalist, an athlete who has fans all over the world, and a human being whose predicament commands our attention.»«It's been 153 nights now that BG has been wrongfully detained thousands of miles away from home, away from her family, away from her friends, away from her team,» an emotional Diggins-Smith shared. «All throughout that time, we've kept her in our thoughts and in our hearts, even though we know that's not nearly enough to bring her home.»«We cannot stop fighting for her, we cannot believing for her, and we will not stop hoping for the day we can welcome her home safely,» Curry concluded, before all three declared in unison, «We are BG.»Later in the evening, Megan Rapinoe took home the ESPY Award for Best Play, and used her acceptance speech to also show her love for Griner, and emphasize the importance of keeping the fight going.«BG deserves to be free.

Denzel Washington honoured a sports hero.

entered a guilty plea before the court, which analysts believe may have been her best chance at securing an eventual pardon, or at least leniency, given the Russian court system's near-perfect conviction rate.Maria Blagovolina, one of the lawyers representing Griner, said her legal team had presented evidence Friday including «characterization materials, medical records and tax returns.» Among the medical documentation was a doctor's prescription for the substance that Griner admitted bringing into Russia mistakenly as she packed her bags in a rush.  Friday was the fourth hearing in the Phoenix Mercury player's trial. She's facing up to 10 years in prison on drug possession and smuggling charges.

Video: Lenny Kravitz and Anitta named 'most beautiful' vegans of 2022 (Cover Video)Judge orders Britney Spears' father Jamie to sit for deposition over handling of conservatorshipKhloe Kardashian is expecting baby number two with cheating ex Tristan ThompsonAna de Armas recalls 'horrible' attention surrounding relationship with Ben AffleckMartin Lawrence confident Bad Boys 4 will go ahead with Will SmithNoah Schnapp apologises to Doja Cat for leaking private messagesJessica Chastain defends Florence Pugh's sheer Valentino gownLizzo reveals Coldplay's Yellow is her 'hookup' songJudge denies Amber Heard's request for mistrial in Johnny Depp defamation caseJAY-Z shuts down retirement rumoursLeBron James calls out US for failing to free Brittney Griner from russian detentionCardi B and Offset give Kulture $50,000 for her 4th birthdayIN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Zendaya becomes youngest producing Emmy nomineeIN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Mickey Rourke slams Tom Cruise for playing 'same part for 35 years'Pete Davidson sees fatherhood in his futureCardi B 'never had a nanny' for her daughterIoan Gruffudd asks for joint custody of his daughters with ex Alice EvansPreviously, Kravitz shared that he went vegan as it is "the right thing for yourself and for the planet and animals". Meanwhile, Anitta opted to go plant-based after viewing the documentary Cowspiracy in 2019.

[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]

Post.  "The U.S.

It was a momentous day at the White House for Simone Biles, Megan Rapinoe and 15 other recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. President Biden bestowed the nation's highest civilian honor to the awardees in the East Room on Thursday. Biles made history at the ceremony as the youngest person to ever receive the Medal of Freedom.

Brittney Griner pleaded guilty in Russia on Thursday to drug possession and smuggling charges, telling a Moscow court she brought marijuana into the country by accident.Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February after Russian officials claimed she had cannabis oil in her luggage. A Russian judge ordered Griner, the Phoenix Mercury center who played in Russia during the WNBA off-season, to remain in custody.«I would like to plead guilty on the charges against me, but I had no intention on breaking any Russian law,» she said in court.

Paul Whelan have said they are “astonished” that US President Joe Biden has not spoken to them personally while he remains detained in Russia. Elizabeth Whelan, the 49-year-old’s sister, said the Biden administration had not spoken with them since May in an interview with CNN on Wednesday. Hours earlier, Mr Biden said he and vice president Kamala Harris had spoken with the wife of the WNBA star Britney Griner amid her trial in Moscow and calls from her supporters for her release.

Brittney Griner's Wife Cherelle Fears She'll 'Never' See Her Again Brittney Griner Pens Letter to President Joe Biden From Russian Prison WNBA's Brittney Griner Appears in Russian Court, Criminal Trial Set

video of a traveler who looked like Griner going through airport security, followed by footage of someone examining a package that appeared to be from a traveler’s bag. Due to Russian laws prohibiting illicit substances, Griner was subsequently charged with “large-scale transportation of drugs.”The U.S. has alleged that Griner is being wrongfully detained — a charge which Russian officials have denied. Some security experts have speculated that the WNBA player was scapegoated in retaliation for the United States’ vocal opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year. Last week, Griner’s trial began, but for all intents, it has been deemed by many human rights observers, and the U.S.

Brittney Griner, sooner rather than later.Brittney, whose trial began last week, was arrested at a Moscow airport in February after Russia claimed she had cannabis oil in her luggage. A Russian judge ordered Brittney, the Phoenix Mercury center who played in Russia during the WNBA off-season, to remain in custody for the trial's duration. If convicted on drug smuggling charges, Brittney could face 10 years in a Russian prison.

Brittney Griner has written an open letter to President Joe Biden pleading for her freedom.

Brittney Griner was delivered to the White House on Monday morning, according to the Griner family, who provided excerpts to reporters. In her letter, the imprisoned WNBA star pleaded with the president not to forget her, and said her already deep appreciation for Independence Day has taken on new meaning this year. «I'm terrified I might be here forever,» wrote Griner, who has been detained in Russia since mid-February. «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.