Prominent US sports stars showed their support during Wednesday night’s ESPY awards for Olympic champion Brittney Griner, who is detained in Russia on drug charges.
NBA star Stephen Curry hosted the awards show, which is often referred to as the Emmys of the sports world. Griner was arrested in February at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport over allegations she tried to bring cannabis oil into Russia.
She faces up to 10 years in jail. The US government considers the 31-year-old wrongfully detained, and some believe her arrest was politically motivated during a time of escalated tension between Russia and the US.
Curry noted the efforts to bring Griner home, but said more needed to be done. “But as we hope for the best, we urge the entire global sports community to continue to stay energized on her behalf,” he said. “[Griner] is one of us, the team of athletes in this room tonight and all over the world.