Women’s basketball superstar Brittney Griner reportedly detained in Russia

Brittney Griner, one of America’s most decorated women’s basketball players, has reportedly been detained by Russian Federal Customs Service authorities after the discovery of vape cartridges that contained hashish oil in her luggage at an airport near Moscow.

The Customs Service confirmed “the detainee is a professional basketball player” who played in the Women’s National Basketball Association and won two Olympic gold medals with the United States in a statement issued on Saturday, but did not release the player’s name.

Russia’s TASS news agency identified the player as Griner, a seven-time All-Star center with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury who helped lead the United States to gold medals at the Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games, citing a law enforcement source.

According to the Customs Service statement, drug-sniffing dogs in the customs area of Sheremetyevo airport indicated the possible presence of narcotic drugs in the player’s baggage following her arrival on a flight from New York. A subsequent search of the luggage led to the discovery of the cartridges, a criminal violation under Russian law that carries a sentence of five to 10 years.

Griner’s agent and a spokesperson for the Mercury did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Guardian.

Griner, who led Phoenix to the franchise’s third ever WNBA title in 2014, has also played for UMMC Ekaterinburg during the offseason since 2015, leading the Russian club to three domestic titles and EuroLeague Women championships in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2021.

More to follow.