United States basketball star Brittney Griner’s drug trial focuses on testimony that hashish can have reliable medicinal makes use of.
The defence crew of US basketball participant Brittney Griner, detained in Russia on drug fees, has argued in court docket that she had used medical hashish to deal with ache from accidents, like many different elite worldwide athletes.
A narcology professional summoned by the defence on Tuesday stated that medical hashish was broadly used to deal with athletes, and sometimes had fewer negative effects than different painkillers.
“With the prescription in place, Brittney might have used it for medical however not leisure functions,” stated lawyer Maria Blagovolina of the agency Rybalkin, Gortsunyan, Dyakin and Companions.
Griner, a Ladies’s Nationwide Basketball Affiliation (WNBA) star who has performed in Russia through the league’s off season, was detained at a Moscow airport on February 17 with vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her baggage. Medical marijuana is unlawful in Russia.
She faces a attainable jail sentence of as much as 10 years in a case that has highlighted the fraught relations between Russia and the US at a time of heightened rigidity over Moscow’s navy intervention in Ukraine. Some supporters contend she is being held in Russia as a pawn, probably for a prisoner swap. American soccer notable Megan Rapinoe final week stated “She’s being held as a political prisoner, clearly.”
Sporting round-rimmed glasses and a black and gray sweatshirt with “Black Lives For Peace” on the again, Griner listened to the proceedings by way of a translator.
Earlier than taking a seat within the defendant’s cage, she held up a lined sheet of paper with photos of her two finest buddies: a teammate, and her spouse Cherelle carrying her #42 jersey from the Phoenix Mercury, her WNBA crew.
The 2-time Olympic champion, who has appealed to US President Joe Biden to safe her launch, has pled responsible however denied she meant to interrupt Russian regulation.
Griner – often known as “BG” to basketball followers – will seem in court docket once more on Wednesday, when she might be known as upon to testify. An extra listening to within the case is scheduled for August 2, Griner’s defence crew stated.
It’s time now to proceed to push for a direct response from Russia to launch Brittney Griner now! Free BG now!!! That is inhumane and devastating.
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) July 26, 2022
US officers and distinguished athletes argue the 31-year-old has been wrongly detained and have known as for her to be launched instantly. The Russian authorities dismiss the US criticism, with the Kremlin saying the case has nothing to do with politics.
Elizabeth Rood, the US Embassy’s cost d’affaires, attended Tuesday’s court docket session. Griner “confirms that she is doing OK and in addition to might be anticipated underneath these circumstances”, she advised reporters.
ABC’s Good Morning America programme aired a producer’s transient interview with Griner during which she wished her spouse, Cherelle, “good luck on the bar examination.”
When requested whether or not she had any complaints, she replied: “No, no complaints. Simply ready patiently.” She displayed pictures of her spouse, buddies and teammates.
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