Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev has compared Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia to Novak Djokovic’s inability to enter America and play in the US Open.
Griner, who is a two-time Olympic champion in basketball, was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison for drug charges, convicted of smuggling and possessing narcotics. The 31-year-old admitted in court that she had cannabis oil on her when she was searched at a Russian airport, but added that it was an “honest mistake”.
Medvedev, who is currently competing at the US Open, was asked about the Griner case.
He decided to draw a comparison with how Djokovic has not been able to compete at the US Open due to his refusal to get the coronavirus vaccination.
“I do think it’s quite comparable to other situations,” he said of Griner’s case.
“Let’s talk about Novak. He couldn’t come to the country for whatever reason, because of different laws.
“We can say does this law make sense? Because Americans can come back without a vaccine. Novak cannot come here and he doesn’t want to live in the USA. He wants to just play the tennis tournament and go back home to Serbia.
“I don’t know the exact situation, but I think if she really had, was it marijuana, then I don’t know.
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