By Dorothy J. Gentry
Sports Editor
Seven days after news of her move to a Russian penal colony – without knowledge from her lawyers –the exact location of WNBA Star Brittney Griner is now known, her legal team announced Thursday.
Griner, a Houston native who played college basketball at Baylor University, has been transported to Penal Colony IK-2 in the Russian region of Mordovia, her lawyers said in a statement on Thursday.
In a statement sent to ABC News, Griner’s lawyers said they visited the Phoenix Mercury star earlier this week. “Brittney is doing as well as could be expected and trying to stay strong as she adapts to a new environment,” the statement read.
“On behalf of Brittney, we would like to thank everyone who has expressed care for her. During the last few days, we’ve received numerous messages of support. Considering that this is a very challenging period for her, there will be no further comments from us.”
Last month a Russian court rejected Griner’s appeal of her nine-year-sentence for drug possession.
Griner was convicted Aug. 4 after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. She was overseas playing basketball during the WNBA offseason.
She admitted having the canisters but that she inadvertently packed them and had no criminal intent.
The eight-time all-star center with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and two-time Olympic gold medalist has been detained for almost nine months.
Stay tuned to Texas Metro News for updates on this continuing story.
