American basketball player jailed for 9 years in Russia, Biden demands release
American basketball star Brittany Griner has been sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of intentionally bringing a vape cartridge filled with cannabis into Russia . At the same time, US President Joe Biden said we do not accept this decision. Following the verdict, police pulled Griner out of the courtroom in handcuffs, turned to reporters, and said "I love my family". Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and Women's National Basketball Federation star, was arrested in mid-February as she arrived to play in the National Basketball Federation. Her case caused a geopolitical upheaval for Texans. US-Russian relations were taken to a new post-Cold War low with the February 24 attack on Ukraine following President Vladimir Putin 's order. Griner's sentence could now pave the way for a US-Russia prisoner swap involving a 31-year-old athlete and an imprisoned Russian who was once an arms dealer. Griner admitted he had vape cartridges contai