Russian basketball boss defends Brittney Griner during drug charges hearing

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The director of the UMMC Yekaterinburg women's basketball club, Maxim Ryabkov, defended U.S. player Brittney Griner on Thursday as she made her third appearance in a Russian court on drug charges carrying a possible jail sentence of up to 10 years.

"Our aim today was to come here and tell the court about her character as a sportswoman and as a person," he said, joined by UMMC team captain Evgeniya Belyakova.

Griner pleaded guilty last week to carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, but said she did not intend to break the law.

Russia's foreign ministry also spoke in Moscow, saying American authorities should stop exerting pressure on Russia and use diplomatic channels to discuss Griner's fate.