KRASNOGORSK, Russia ¨C A Russian court on Tuesday dismissed WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner¡¯s appeal against a nine-year sentence for possessing and smuggling vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, paving the way for her to be sent to a penal colony, in a court case that Washington has called a ¡°sham.¡±
U.S. President Joe Biden, whose administration in late July had proposed a deal for a prisoner swap with Russia to secure the release of Griner and former U.S. marine Paul Whelan, said he will not let up efforts to bring them home.
¡°We¡¯re in constant contact with Russian authorities to get Brittney and others out. So far we¡¯ve not been meeting with much positive response but we¡¯re not stopping,¡± he said.
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