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Brittney Griner will remain behind bars in Russia for the foreseeable future.
According to her attorney, the WNBA star’s detention has been extended for six months pending the outcome of her trial, which is supposed to start Friday.
The trial will be held behind closed doors at the Khimki court outside Moscow.
Griner has been detained since February after Russian officials claim cannabis oil was found in her luggage at an airport near Moscow. As a result, Russian officials launched a drug trafficking investigation into the 31-year-old Phoenix Mercury star. She was charged with “large-scale transportation of drugs.”
A Russian court orders WNBA star Brittney Griner's detainment be extended by six months, with her trial set to begin Friday.
Griner has been held in a Russian jail since February, accused of having vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage at an airport. pic.twitter.com/KHgtAT4mCG
— The Recount (@therecount) June 27, 2022
If convicted, Griner could face 10 years in prison in Russia.
For the last seven years, Griner has played for the Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA offseason. She last played on January 29 before a two-week break for the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournaments.
While Griner is being detained, the WNBA is honoring her with a “BG42” logo on every court until she is released.