American basketball player Brittney Griner was sentenced in Russia on Thursday to nine years in prison, after a Moscow court found her guilty of drug smuggling with criminal intent.
The sentence comes amid concerns that the WNBA star is being used as a political pawn in Russia's war against Ukraine.
Judge Anna Sotnikova also fined the athlete 1 million rubles (approximately $16,400).
She added that the court took into account her partial admission of guilt, remorse for the act, state of health and charitable activities.
Prosecutors in the case had asked for nine and a half years in prison during closing arguments.
Griner's sentence aroused all kinds of reactions from the world of sports and also from the president of the United States, Joe Biden,
