Brittney Griner has been freed by Russia in a prisoner-swap, she is now in US custody

Brittney Griner has been released by Russia in a one-for-one prisoner swap with international arms dealer Viktor Bout, say reports.

Griner had travelled from New York to Russia during the WNBA off-season to play for Russian women’s basketball team UMMC Ekaterinburg.

The Phoenix Mercury eight-time all-star centre saw her detainment extended three times before her trial started in July.

Griner then pleaded guilty to the charges of smuggling drugs into Russia, but insisted that she had no “intent” to “break the law.”

Prosecutor Nikolai Vlasenko, meanwhile, was adamant that Griner packed the cannabis oil on purpose. Further to her jail sentence, Vlasenko asked the court to fine Griner one million rubles (£13,400).

Griner’s lawyer, Maria Blagovolina, stated that the two time Olympic gold medalist used the cannabis only in Arizona, where it is legal to take medical marijuana.

Blagovolina added that Griner was packing with extra urgency after a long flight and suffered from the consequences of COVID-19.

She also said the analysis of cannabis found in Griner’s bag was flawed and violated legal procedures.

During her appeal hearing via a video link, Griner insisted that it was an “honest mistake” and it had also been “very, very stressful.”

The two-time Olympic gold medalist issued her plea to overturn the decision to an appeals court of three judges, with the basketball player detained in a centre in a town near Moscow.

It was reported that Griner would serve out her nine-year jail term in a Russian penal colony.

The exchange agreement negotiated with Moscow was given final approval by US president Joe Biden within the last week.