The article discusses the case of Brittney Griner, a US basketball star who was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison on drug charges. Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was arrested in February at a Moscow airport after vape cartridges containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage. The 31-year-old pleaded guilty to the charges but said she had made an “honest mistake” and did not intend to break the law. The verdict and sentencing were widely criticized by US officials, with President Joe Biden calling it “unacceptable” and vowing to continue working to bring Griner home. The case has raised concerns that Griner is being used as a political pawn amid tensions between the US and Russia over the Ukraine war. Her lawyers plan to appeal the verdict, and the US has proposed a prisoner swap to secure her release.