LGBTQ basketball star Brittney Griner detained in Russia
mambaonline.comBrittney Griner (Photo by Lorie Shaull) There are fears that arrested American Olympic basketball gold medalist Brittney Griner will become a victim of deteriorating relations between the US and Russia. Griner, 31, was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport in February after officials allegedly found cannabis oil vape cartridges in her luggage, a substance that is illegal in Russia.
The Russian Federal Customs Service said in a statement that it had opened a criminal case of “smuggling of narcotic drugs in a significant amount” against her and that she could be imprisoned for a term of five to 10 years.
Griner, who came out as a lesbian in 2013, plays both for Phoenix Mercury in the US Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) as well as for the UMMC Ekaterinburg team in the Russian Premier League.
Her US national team won Olympic Gold in 2016 (Rio de Janeiro) and 2020 (Tokyo). In light of Russia’s persecution of LGBTQ people, it’s not known if her sexual orientation may become a factor in her detention.
