Brittney Griner’s legal team appeals nine-year sentence for drug trafficking (Image: AP)

American basketball star Britney Griner’s legal team has appealed her nine-year prison sentence in Russia on drug charges.

His lawyer, Maria Blagovorina, confirmed on Monday that a complaint had been filed with Lia Novosti of Russian state media. Griner was also fined 1 million rand (£13,230.60).

Blagovorina said that following Grinner’s excessive sentencing, defendants in similar cases received short sentences of about five years, with about a third getting parole.

The reasons for the appeal, which could take up to three months to hear, were not immediately clear, according to The New York Times.

Griner’s lawyers said they planned to appeal after the August 4 ruling, but under Russian law they had 10 days to do so.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist and Phoenix Mercury center was arrested at a Moscow airport in February after authorities found cartridges containing hemp oil in his luggage.

Greiner, 31, has pleaded guilty to the charges but claims he inadvertently brought cannabis oil, which is illegal in Russia, after rushing to pack a plane.

Prior to his conviction, Griner was considered “unlawfully detained” by the US State Department.

Secretary of State Anthony Brinken also said the United States had made a “substantial offer” to repatriate Griner and Paul Whelan, another American detained in Russia.

Blinken reportedly told his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, about notorious arms dealer Victor Butt and his proposal to trade Griner for Wielan.

Russia confirmed last week that it was negotiating a prisoner swap with the United States.

“The rather sensitive issue of the prisoner exchange of Russian and American citizens was discussed through the channels of the two presidents,” said Alexander Dartyev, head of the North American Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry. Tas.

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