WNBA player detained in Russia for THC cartridges

Basketball star Brittney Griner, WNBA (women's NBA) champion and Olympic gold medalist for the United States, has been detained in Russia for several days, if not weeks, after Moscow customs officials allegedly found THC cartridges for vaping in his luggage.

The timeline of Griner's arrest isn't exactly clear, with current tensions around Russia not helping matters. Customs authorities released security footage of a 1.80 m tall person believed to be Griner passing through security checks at Moscow's Sheremtyevo airport in February, but did not give his name or the exact date of his arrest.

Griner usually travels to Russia to work during the WNBA off-season. Many WNBA players supplement their income by playing for foreign teams during the winter. In recent years, Griner has played for UMMC Ekaterinburg of Russia in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Women's EuroLeague.

His detention highlights the risks for American athletes, as was the case for Sha'Carri Richardson, In the United States, Canada, Mexico and many other countries, cannabis is being legalized. American leagues also authorize the use of cannabis for its players.

The Russian government has reportedly opened criminal proceedings against the seven-time WNBA star due to national laws prohibiting the possession of cannabis for recreational or medical purposes. In Russia, cannabis cartridges like those allegedly found in Griner's luggage could earn him a 10-year prison sentence for just two grams.

What's going to happen to Brittney Griner?

The Phoenix Mercury, Griner's WNBA team, released a statement on Instagram on Saturday, March 5, acknowledging Griner's detention. But the obvious question is: how did this news stay silent for so long?

Griner is one of the WNBA's biggest stars. Headlines about Russia may have dominated world news for weeks, but his «disappearance» may have been under-reported )on purpose.

«Whenever an American is detained anywhere in the world, we are, of course, ready to provide whatever assistance we can, and that includes Russia,» said Secretary of State Antony Blinken for ESPN. «We have an embassy team working on the cases of other Americans who are detained in Russia. We are doing everything we can to ensure that their rights are upheld and respected.»

Evelyn Farkas, a former senior Pentagon official who served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia and Ukraine from 2012 to 2015, told Yahoo Sports that Russia may be using Griner as a «high-level hostage» as tensions between the U.S. and Russia come to a head over the war in Ukraine.

«If we want her out of prison, Russia is going to have conditions,» said Farkas. «It could be a prisoner exchange. They could also use it as an implicit threat or blackmail to get us to do something or not do something. Either way, they find it useful.»