Russian basketball team boss gives evidence in US athlete’s drugs trial

The lawyers of the WNBA star, Alexander Boykov, left, and Maria Blagovolina at the court hearing (Dmitry Serebryakov/AP)

American basketball star Brittney Griner did not testify on the third day of her drugs possession trial in Russia but the director of the Russian team she plays for in the US off-season said he told the court about her merits.

Griner was arrested in February at the Russian capital’s Sheremetyevo Airport when customs officials said they found vape canisters with cannabis oil in her luggage. She has been held in jail since then, and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.