Brittney Griner will remain detained in Russia until May 19 / News - Basketnews.com

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Brittney Griner's detention in Russia has been extended until May 19, according to Russia's state news agency.

Brittney Griner

Position:CAge:31Height:206 cmWeight:93 kgBirth place:Houston, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Ever sinceit was reportedthat WNBA superstar Griner was detained in Russia for drug trafficking charges, uncertainty was looming over the subject.

"In February 2022, when a US citizen, who arrived on a flight from New York, was passing through the green corridor at Sheremetyevo Airport, a service dog from the canine department of Sheremetyevo Customs indicated the possible presence of drugs in the escorted luggage," Russia's Federal Customs Service reported three weeks ago.

Since the news came out, CCTV video footage was released from the day the detainment occurred. In the security footage, she wears running shoes, black sweatpants, and a black hoodie with "Black Lives for Peace" written on the back. At 2.06 meters tall, she towers above the customs agents and other travelers.

In another shot, she is seen sitting in front of a man, most likely a customs agent, shaking her head "no".

"If this was an NBA [professional men's league] player of her caliber... this would be on the cover of not only every sports page but every news media page in the world," said Tamryn Spruill, a sports journalist who is writing a book about Griner and the WNBA.

"She's every bit the Tom Brady of her sport," Melissa Isaacson, a sportswriter, and professor at Northwestern University, said. "You could argue very accurately that she is one of the best athletes in the world."

Few have accomplished what Griner has done - winning an NCAA championship, WNBA and Euroleague titles, and an Olympic gold medal. She is also one of the very few females athletes who can consistently dunk the ball.

"My biggest fear is that she will be a political con," Debbie Jackson, high school coach of WNBA star Brittney Griner, told CNN. "I would tell her that you're loved by so many people. You've always had a true resolve and grit to get to the finish line. You'll get to the finish line of this trial you're going through, this ordeal."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week that American officials are doing everything in their power to help her. "There's only so much I can say given the privacy considerations at this point," Blinken told the media.

"For Brittney's sake, we don't want her to become a part of this kind of political battle that's going on, and we want to make sure that her rights are respected and that we are able to get access to her, and that she can get through the process and get home as quickly as possible," US Representative Colin Allred told CNN last Thursday.

A month after her detention, very little is known about her circumstances. No information has surfaced on when exactly Griner was detained and where she is now.

"We don't want Ms. Griner to become a pawn in the political battle that's being waged throughout the world right now," said US Congressman John Garamendi. "The war in Ukraine has essentially severed diplomatic ties between the US and Russia. That is going to exacerbate this issue."

Nearly 60,000 fans have signed an online petition, organized by journalist Tamryn Spruill, demanding the US government prioritize her safe return and treat her like "any other sports icon". "There has absolutely not been enough coverage," Spruill said. "It's hard for me to read that other than a choice by the broader media."

Lately, more high-profile names and figures have reacted to the situation, most notably former US Secretary of State and Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, simply claiming "Free Brittney" on her Twitter account. Toronto Raptors player Chris Boucher has also directed attention to Griner's case in his recent post-game interview.

Griner is openly gay which led to speculations that her stance may be one of the arguments the Russian operatives are keeping her behind closed doors. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat representing Griner’s home state of Texas, recently told the news website the Hill that she believes the arrest was "targeted and purposeful".

Sports shouldn't merge with politics, but as it often is, it is impossible to draw the line between the two. Until more information is released by any of the parties involved, Griner's situation remains unknown. If convicted, Griner faces up to 10 years in prison.

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