Russian basketball boss defends Brittney Griner in drugs trial

WNBC player Griner, who has played in Russia during offseasons since 2014, was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport on Feb. 17 after vape cartridges containing hashish oil were allegedly found in her baggage. At a hearing last week the two-time Olympic gold medallist pled guilty to the drugs charges but said she had not intended to break the law.

A Russian basketball club director gave evidence in support of U.S. star Brittney Griner on Thursday in her third appearance in a Russian court on drugs charges carrying a possible jail sentence of up to 10 years.

Maria Blagovolina of the Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Partners law firm, which is defending Griner, said UMMC Yekaterinburg club boss Maxim Ryabkov had testified to her good character during Thursday's session, which was closed to reporters. She said Ryabkov told the court of Griner's "outstanding abilities as a player and personal contribution to strengthening team spirit".

Team captain Yevgenia Belyakova also testified in Griner's defence at the court in Khimki, on the outskirts of Moscow, where Griner had earlier arrived under guard and in handcuffs. WNBC player Griner, who has played in Russia during offseasons since 2014, was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport on Feb. 17 after vape cartridges containing hashish oil were allegedly found in her baggage.

At a hearing last week the two-time Olympic gold medallist pled guilty to the drugs charges but said she had not intended to break the law. A spokesman for Griner's defence team said she would be back in court on Friday. Russia has denied any political element to the case, at a time of heightened tension with the United States over the conflict in Ukraine.

Amid suggestions Griner could be exchanged for a Russian citizen jailed in the United States, a Russian deputy foreign minister said last week that the "hype" surrounding her case was not helpful.