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US basketball star Brittney Griner’s appeal against her nine-year sentence to prison on drug charges was denied by a Russian court.
The state prosecutor praised the sentence as “fair” as the court outside of Moscow affirmed it.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist expressed regret for her “honest mistake” and described the appeal session as “extremely, very difficult” in her apology.
Griner, 32, was found guilty of possessing and importing cannabis oil in August.
It wasn’t immediately obvious if she had tried every legal option. She will be sent to a prison camp to complete her sentence.
According to reports, In August, the Kremlin raised the possibility of a prisoner swap between the US and Russia involving the basketball player.
Reports in US media suggest imprisoned Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout – known as the Merchant of Death – could be transferred by Washington to the Russian authorities as part of the deal.
Mr Boykov said: “No judge, hand on heart, will honestly say that Griner’s nine-year sentence is in line with Russian criminal law.”
He added his legal team would be in talks with Griner as to whether she would want to pursue a further appeal.
The WNBA star’s lawyer, Alexander Boykov, said his team hoped that a prisoner exchange would be possible.
In August, the Kremlin raised the possibility of a prisoner swap between the US and Russia involving the basketball player.
Reports in US media suggest imprisoned Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout – known as the Merchant of Death – could be transferred by Washington to the Russian authorities as part of the deal.
Mr Boykov said: “No judge, hand on heart, will honestly say that Griner’s nine-year sentence is in line with Russian criminal law.”
He added his legal team would be in talks with Griner as to whether she would want to pursue a further appeal.
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