Brittney Griner.Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty
Brittney Griner’s lawyers are revealing what was the motivation behind the sports star’s decision toplead guiltyto drug charges in Russia.
On Thursday, the 31-year-old WNBA star entered a guilty plea and said that she did bring cannabis products into the country — where it is considered illegal — but that she was packing quickly and did not mean to break the law, saying she did so “inadvertently.”
“Brittney sets an example of being brave. She decided to take full responsibility for her actions as she knows that she is a role model for many people,” the statement continues.
Her lawyers say that because of “the nature of her case, the insignificant amount of the substance and BG’s personality and history of positive contributions to global and Russian sport,” they are hopeful that her plea will help the athlete avoid a “severe sentence.”
Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty
Brittney’s trial, whichbegan on July 1, is expected to end with sentencing at the beginning of next month, her legal team adds.
She faces up to 10 years in prison.
Brittney has been detained since her arrest in February. Back then, the two-time Olympic gold medalist was taken into custody at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow afterofficials foundvape cartridges containing hash oil, an illegal substance in Russia, in her luggage.
Her wifeCherelle Grinerrecently opened up about howBrittney is copingbehind bars,tellingRev. Al Sharpton that the two-time Olympic gold medalist is “struggling.”
RELATED VIDEO: Brittney Griner Pleads Guilty to Russian Drug Charges: ‘I Did Not Want to Break the Law’
“She’s there terrified, she’s there alone,” she added on Sharpton’s SiriusXM showKeepin' It Real.
Cherelle said that she knows Brittney isn’t fully expressing her worries to protect Cherelle from the truth.
“Because I’m her person she will always try and write persuasively to make sure I don’t break because she knows I’m studying for my bar and she knows I have all these things going on and she’s trying to always be my strong person.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Cherelle said Brittney has told her she’s “hardened” and is not “on her knee right now” and will need time after she gets home to get back to herself. “But I’m holding on and I won’t break until I come home,” Brittney wrote in a letter to Cherelle, their only form of communication.
As for how Cherelle is doing, she told Sharpton, “I’m doing okay, I wish I could say I was better, but until my wife is home there is a huge piece of me that is missing.”
source: people.com
