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“I wish to apologize to my teammates, my membership, my followers, and the town of [Yekaterinburg] for my mistake that I made and the embarrassment that I introduced on them,” Griner mentioned in her assertion. “I wish to additionally apologize to my mother and father, my siblings, the Phoenix Mercury group again at residence, the wonderful ladies of the WNBA, and my wonderful partner again at residence.”
Responding to her sentence, President Joe Biden slammed Russia for “wrongfully detaining” Griner, saying he would “pursue each potential avenue” to carry her residence.
“It’s unacceptable, and I name on Russia to launch her instantly so she will be along with her spouse, family members, pals, and teammates,” Biden mentioned in a statement. “My administration will proceed to work tirelessly and pursue each potential avenue to carry Brittney and Paul Whelan residence safely as quickly as potential.”
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver additionally launched a joint assertion condemning the decision.
“At present’s verdict and sentencing is unjustified and unlucky, however not surprising and Brittney Griner stays wrongly detained,” they mentioned. “The WNBA and NBA’s dedication to her secure return has not wavered and it’s our hope that we’re close to the tip of this technique of lastly bringing BG residence to america.”
Griner beforehand testified that she used hashish oil prescribed by her physician to deal with ache from sports activities accidents, however had packed her baggage in a rush and didn’t imply to carry them to Russia, the place she was taking part in within the WNBA offseason. “As they ended up in my baggage by chance, I take accountability, however I didn’t intend to smuggle or plan to smuggle [illegal substances] to Russia,” she had testified on July 27.
Griner additionally complained that her rights were not read to her when she was first arrested and that she didn’t obtain correct translation companies through the investigation.
In a letter written to Biden final month, Griner mentioned she was “terrified” she is perhaps held in a Russian jail ceaselessly.
“I notice you’re coping with a lot, however please don’t neglect about me and the opposite American Detainees,” she mentioned. “Please do all you possibly can to carry us residence.”
Colas, Griner’s agent, mentioned they appreciated the Biden administration’s efforts to carry basketball star and Whelan again to the US.
“Bringing Brittney and Paul house is the only real goal, and as such, we should always use all accessible instruments,” Colas mentioned. “We should stay centered and unified. This can be a time for compassion and a shared understanding that getting a deal completed to carry People residence can be exhausting, however it’s pressing and it’s the proper factor to do.”
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