evidence: Background on Griner [edit]Brittney Griner is an American professional and Olympic basketball player. Beginning in 2014, she played basketball during the WNBA offseasons for Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg. On February 17, 2022, Griner was detained at Sheremetyevo International Airport after the Russian Federal Customs Service found she was carrying vaporizer cartridges containing less than a gram of hash oil; in Arizona she had been prescribed medicinal cannabis which is illegal in Russia.[36][37][38] Some U.S. officials expressed concern that Russia was possibly using her as leverage in response to the international sanctions imposed against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in February of that year. Former Pentagon official Evelyn Farkas expressed concern that Griner could be used as a "high-profile hostage" by Russia.[39][40] Houston, Texas, Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee called for Griner's release.[41][40] [...] - ^ Weisman, Jonathan; Bensinger, Ken (December 9, 2022). "Blowback Over Griner's Release Exposes Depth of America's Divisions". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 10, 2022. [...] - ^ Coffey-Behrens, Kelly (June 8, 2024). "Brittney Griner Will Play At 2024 Paris Olympics, Caitlin Clark Snubbed". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved August 4, 2024.