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sports Diamars 2 augustus 2022

Brittney Griner's trial resumes amid intensified diplomacy

(AP) — Since Brittney Gri- more than five months ago.
ner last appeared in her trial The direct outreach risks un-
for cannabis possession, the dermining a core message to
question of her fate has ex- U.S. allies that isolating Rus-
panded from a tiny, cramped sia could force the eventual
courtroom on Moscow's out- withdrawal of troops from
skirts to the highest level of Ukraine.
Russia-U.S. diplomacy.
It also underlines the pub-
The WNBA star and two- lic pressure that the White
time Olympic gold medalist House has faced to get Griner
returns to court on Tuesday, a released, which has brought
month after the beginning of some backlash. Former Pres-
the trial in which she could ident Donald Trump strongly
face 10 years in prison if con- criticized the proposal that
victed. As the trial has pro- people familiar with it have
gressed, the Biden adminis- said envisions trading Griner
tration has faced rising calls and Whelan for the notorious
for action to win her release. arms trader Viktor Bout.

In an extraordinary move, "He's absolutely one of the
Secretary of State Antony worst in the world, and he's
Blinken last week spoke to going to be given his freedom
his Russian counterpart Ser- because a potentially spoiled
gey Lavrov, urging him to person goes into Russia load- for a Russian women's bas- conclusion, it would also po- The Associated Press.
accept a deal under which ed up with drugs," Trump ketball team in the WNBA tentially be a step forward.
Griner and Paul Whelan, said. off-season. Russian officials have said no He also said that, given the
an American imprisoned in White House Press Secre- release of Griner could occur Biden administration's public
Russia on an espionage con- tary Karine Jean-Pierre told To bolster her case, her de- until the judicial process is commitment to securing the
viction, would go free. reporters Monday that Rus- fense lawyers have called completed. release of Whelan and Gri-
sia has made a "bad faith" character witnesses from her However, a Washington at- ner, Russia "may want to let
Although details of the offer response to the U.S. govern- Russian team, UMMC Ekat- torney who formerly was this play out a little bit longer
remain shrouded, Blinken's ment's offer, a counteroffer erinburg, and presented testi- legal adviser at the U.S. Em- and try to extract more con-
public announcement of a that American officials don't mony from doctors that she bassy in Moscow said there cessions."
proposal was at odds with regard as serious. She de- was prescribed cannabis as a is no formal requirement for
the convention of keeping clined to elaborate. treatment for pain. Medical a conviction before an ex- Russian officials have given
prisoner-release negotiations marijuana treatment is not change. no public hint of whether
tightly under wraps. When Griner, speaking from the legal in Russia. Blinken made headway in his
American Trevor Reed, serv- defendant's cage in a court- Her lawyers say they hope "If she is in fact being used call with Lavrov, only issuing
ing time for assaulting a po- room that barely holds a such testimony will bring le- as a political bargaining chip a statement urging the Amer-
lice officer, was freed in April dozen people, has acknowl- niency from the judge, who — and the administration icans to pursue the matter
in exchange for a Russian edged there were vape can- they say under Russian law has already designated her though "quiet diplomacy
drug trafficker, no clues of an isters containing cannabis oil has leeway to consider miti- as wrongfully detained, pre- without releases of specula-
imminent swap had emerged. in her luggage when she was gating factors. sumably because they think tive information."
arrested at a Moscow airport Acquittals are rare in Russian she is being used as a political
The Lavrov-Blinken call also in February. But she says she criminal prosecutions — less pawn — they may impose a Russia has repeatedly ex-
was the highest-level known had no criminal intent and than 1% of cases. Sentences very significant sentence as a pressed annoyance with
contact between Washing- that the canisters ended up in can be suspended. way to maximize their lever- American statements on the
ton and Moscow since Rus- her luggage because she was age in negotiations," the at- case, saying they show a dis-
sia sent troops into Ukraine packing hastily. Griner played If a conviction is a foregone torney, Tom Firestone, told respect for Russian law.

Barcelona sells part of its production hub for $102M

(AP) — Barcelona has newly signed players right sold a 25% stake of Barça Stu- spender in the offseason de- debt of more than 1.3 billion
sold part of its production away. dios to Socios.com, a block- spite being mired in financial euros ($1.3 billion).
hub for 100 million euros chain provider in the sports difficulties until recently.
($102 million) to boost its Club president Joan Laporta and entertainment business. The team struggled on the
finances in a bid to use its announced Monday the club The club said the sale will Laporta has been criticized field as well, failing to win a
"accelerate" the club's strate- for burdening the club's fu- major title last season after
gies related to audiovisual, ture with its current tactics to not being able to hold on to
blockchain and online prod- find new cash. Barcelona had Lionel Messi.
ucts. already sold 25% of its Span-
ish league TV rights for the France defender Koundé,
The money should also allow next 25 years for 667 million who had also been sought
Barcelona to meet Spanish euros ($682 million). after by Chelsea, praised
league financial requirements Barcelona's new approach to
and sign the players it has ac- "The risk is under control," keep thriving.
quired recently, including Laporta said. "We need to
Robert Lewandowski, Raph- save the club and have the "I chose Barça because it's
inha and Jules Koundé, who possibility of bringing in new clear to me that the club has
was officially introduced on players." a very ambitious project," the
Monday. former Sevilla player said.
The mismanagement blamed
The club spent more than on previous president Josep Barcelona will make its Span-
160 million euros ($163 mil- Bartomeu, combined with ish league debut on Aug. 13
lion) on the three players, the impact of the COVID-19 against Rayo Vallecano.
becoming Europe's leading pandemic, left the club with a