It is with sadness and anger that the sports world greeted the sentencing of basketball player Brittney Griner to 9 years in prison by a Russian court for drug trafficking, calling for action to “free BG”. The 31-year-old American was arrested in February at Moscow airport with a vape containing cannabis liquid.
Joe Biden believes this verdict “unacceptable” and ask “Russia to immediately release“Griner. After these strong words from the American president, it was the North American Women’s Basketball League (WNBA), which reacted first in a joint statement with the NBA.
Both instances deplored the conviction “unfair and regrettable” of the women’s basketball star, adding “the verdict (…) was predictable, and Brittney remains wrongfully detained”.
The American Basketball Federation also expressed its disappointment, but not its surprise. “given what we know of the procedure”.
For the Phoenix Mercury, its WNBA team at “Broken Heart”Brittney Griner’s sentencing marks a “milestone” in “the nightmare endured for 168 days by our sister, BG”.
Brittney, a political pawn
Speaking to Joe Biden, former women’s basketball star Swin Cash asked him: “Please (…) bring Brittney Griner home! We will not stop advocating for it…“.
Many voices have called on the government to continue this negotiation process, with the player’s agent, Lindsay Colas, stressing on Twitter that the sentencing “proves what we’ve known all along, that Brittney is being used as a political pawn“.
“Not possible! 9 years? Bring our sister and friend home. #FREEBG“, finally called Grant Williams, winger of the Boston Celtics, beaten in the NBA finals in June by Golden State.
These “FREEBG” (“Free BG”) were relayed from all sides on social networks.
afp/nm