The US is working to secure the release of seven-time WNBA All-Star player Brittney Griner who was arrested in Russia in February on drug charges, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Moldova President Maia Sandu, Blinken said, “There’s only so much I can say given the privacy considerations at this point. Whenever an American is detained anywhere in the world, we of course stand ready to provide every possible assistance, and that includes in Russia.”

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“We have an embassy team that’s working on the cases of other Americans who are detained in Russia. We’re doing everything we can to see to it that their rights are upheld and respected,” the 59-year-old added.

News of Griner’s arrest broke a day ago when the Russian Customs Service, without naming Griner, said that it had arrested an athlete in February on drug related charges. Subsequently, Russian news agency TASS identified the player as Griner, who plays in Russia in the off-season.

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While the exact date of arrest is unknown, the customs service said that the 31-year-old was arrested after cartridges containing “liquid with hashish oil” were found in her luggage after she landed at the Moscow airport. 

Griner reportedly could face up to 10 years in prison.

Additionally, she is an openly gay athlete and LGBTQ+ rights advocates have voiced concerns about her well-being in Russia, which has a record of restricting rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

Griner has a career average of 17.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in the WNBA, and has been named to the WNBA All-Defensive team six times and the All-WNBA team five times. She is also a two-time league Defensive Player of the Year.

The 31-year-old also holds two Olympic gold medals with the US, which she won in 2016 and 2021.