White House hits out at Russia's 'wrongful' detention of Brittney Griner following sentencing

Brittney Griner has been "wrongfully" detained in Russia, the White House has said.

The American basketball player was sentenced to nine years in a penal colony after being found guilty of drug possession and smuggling with criminal intent by a Russian court on Thursday, 4 August.

Ms Griner was also fined a million rubles (around $16,300).

"Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. She never should have had to endure a trial in the first place," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

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