Russian court rejects Brittney Griner appeal over jail term 

A Russian court has rejected an appeal over the nine-year sentence given to the US basketball player Brittney Griner. 

The court upheld the sentence, with the state prosecutor calling it “fair.”

Grinder,32, was convicted in August of smuggling and possessing cannabis oil. The Olympic winner apologised for her “honest mistake” in the appeal hearing via video link. 

It’s not clear if she has any other legal routes to appeal her sentence. 

The US are hoping for a prisoner exchange with Russia.