Brittney Griner’s Appeal Rejected

WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner is still fighting for freedom from Russia after being taken into custody early in the year for possession of cannabis oil in the Moscow airport. Griner was arrested in February when she tried to go through airport security with the illegal substance, claiming she was unaware it was not legal in Russia.

On Tuesday, a Russian court denied Griner’s appeal of her 9 year prison sentence, leaving her feeling more stranded than ever. President Biden has been trying to work with Russia to get Griner back, along with another wrongfully detained US citizen being held in Russia. The US government and those working with Griner are hopeful that a prison swap will be the thing that gets Griner back over borders.