Base Britney Griner, 31, Phoenix Mercyury player, two-time Olympic (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020) and World (2014 and 2018) champion for the United States, pleaded guilty in a court in Khimki, Russia this Thursday on charges of “trafficking in illegal substances”, for which she was arrested on February 17 at the Moscow airport, upon returning to the country after four months of playing for UMMC Yekaterinburg during a break in the WNBA, she faces a penalty of up to ten months in prison.

The confirmation of the claim of the American basketball player was confirmed to CNN International by the player’s lawyers.

Griner left the Russian court without making any statement to reporters and is returning to the bar to hear her on the 14th of this month. Russian authorities claim cannabis-based oil was found in the basketball player’s luggage. Griner has been in pre-trial detention since February 17.

Griner was without charge and unable to contact his family and his wife, Cherell Griner, as he found himself at the epicenter of growing tensions between the US and Russia, exacerbated by the latter’s invasion of Ukraine since February 24 and the war.

In May, the US State Department classified Griner as “detained by mistake” and classified her as a “hostage” of Russia. Now, at a second hearing in the case – after being cross-examined last week – Griner has, to his surprise, pleaded guilty.

Russian prosecutors allege that Griner tried to smuggle cannabis in his luggage. The prosecution theory is based on Britney’s alleged intent to buy and import banned substances from Russia to transact in the US, as prosecutors defended in a previous hearing, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

Also on Wednesday, the 6th of this month, in Washington, DC, at the White House, Griner wrote to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the President and Vice President of the United States, that they consider his release and safe return to the country “a priority.” — reported that two senior Biden administration officials themselves called and spoke with Griner’s wife, Sherell Griner, for which the latter is “grateful,” he wrote in a statement.

“But I still can’t talk to Britney and am still worried about her until she gets home safe and sound. The fact that President Biden read the letter I sent him, although it took some time to respond, gives me great hope. I know that Britney will be more comfortable just knowing that she is not forgotten, ”Sherel Griner writes in the same note.

Britney Griner has not been forgotten by the WNBA, and even though the 2022/23 season has already begun, she is remembered in all pavilions and honorably elected to the main five of the All-Star game, which takes place on Sunday, October 10th. Chicago. The player continues to receive a salary despite being in Russian custody for almost five months.

Following River Plate’s elimination from the Copa Libertadores at the feet of Vélez Sarsfield, midfielder Enzo Fernández left his doors open to leave Buenos Aires for Lisbon to strengthen Benfica ahead of the start of the new season. However, in statements at a post-match press conference on Thursday, Marcelo Gallardo, River Plate manager, said the midfielder’s future is not fully decided, unlike his teammate, who made his last appearance for the Millionaires. “[Palavras para Julian Álvarez e Enzo Fernández, que cumpriu hoje, muito provavelmente, o último jogo pelo River antes de se mudar para o Benfica?] Well, the case of Enzo Fernandez is not clear, not clear. I will say yes to Julián because it was his last game for him. I will tell you the same thing that I told him in person and then in the presence of his companions. For me, it is a source of great pride that I had the opportunity to coach him, to share in these years of growth that he had, and his football evolution. Today he moves to one of the biggest teams in the world. This makes me very happy and is a source of pride for me as I have seen him grow up and work hard. He has shown not only to me but to all Argentine football that he deserves the opportunity he has and I have no doubt that he will become an elite player, in fact he already is. He is a great boy, a great professional and I wish him and his family all the best,” said the millionaires coach, not to mention the situation with the midfielder, who has an agreement to move to Lush.

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Pepe returned to work this Wednesday after a holiday. The captain assured that he was very motivated for another season in the service of the national champion.

“The expectation is always the same: to give our club the best and try to improve on what we did last year. This is our mission because we want to be healthy, bring joy to our fans and enjoy what we love to do. This is a year that will require a lot from everyone, and we are confident that we will manage. We will work for this and be able to respect our shirt,” the defender said, referring to the club’s website.

On the challenges they will face: “We are aware and confident that we have to be beaten for being champions last year, so we have to work very well. As I said, we need to improve on what we did last year. We have the Champions League, a competition where we want to celebrate our club and Portugal. We must work hard and with great enthusiasm to live until the end of the year happy.”

Pepe is still ready for next season, even at the age of 39: “First of all, it is the result of the luck I had to be at a great club like Porto where people work spectacularly. The coach demands a lot from us, he always makes sure that we can be at our best level in training. Even when we are not in Olivala, he requires us to try to be at our best, staying focused even when we are at home. That is why this demand from him (Sergio Conceição) helps me a lot to be at this level and to be at Porto, which gives me all the conditions to do my job.”