WNBA star Brittney Griner is "in good condition" after the US Embassy in Russia was granted access to visit the detained athlete on Wednesday (March 23), State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on during a CNN appearance.
According to Price, US Ambassador John Sullivan was asked to go to Russia's Foreign Ministry Monday (March 21) and sent a "candid message" that the US expects to be granted consular access to its citizens in pre-trial detention.
Griner's is awaiting trial after Russian Customs officials claimed to have found vape cartridges with cannabis oil in her luggage at an airport outside of Moscow. The state media agency reported last week that the Olympic gold medalist's detainment would be extended until May 19. Griner has been detained since February.
"Within the past couple hours, an official from our embassy has been granted consular access to Brittney Griner," Price said on CNN Wednesday (March 23), according to USA Today.
"We were able to check her condition. We will continue to work closely with her legal team, with her broader network to see to it that she is treated fairly. That is a message we will continue to convey in no uncertain terms to the Russian Federation."
The visit from the US Embassy comes after officials raised concern about the lack of access to Griner at the pre-detention facility last week.
Griner's detention period could be extended further if the case doesn't head to adjudication, according to USA Today.
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