U.S. basketball star appeals nine year Russian jail sentence

U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner’s legal team has officially appealed her nine year sentence for for narcotics possession and trafficking.

The WNBA player was convicted after she was caught brining cannabis oil into Russia.

Griner has admitted fault but says it was an honest mistake, as her defence team stage an appeal.

A partner at the firm defending the basketballer was quoted by Russian news saying the appeal was filed, but the exact grounds of the appeal remain unclear.

Lawyers had previously said the sentence was excessive, with similar cases seeing defendants sent to jail for around five years, and about a third granted parole.