US basketball star Brittney Griner, who is being held in Russia, has been moved to a penal colony, her legal team said on Wednesday.
She was transferred from a detention centre in Iksha in the Moscow area on November 4, the statement said.
"She is now on her way to a penal colony. We do not have any information on her exact current location or her final destination,” it said.
Last month, a Russian court rejected Griner's appeal against her nine-year sentence for drug possession.
The White House described her treatment as unacceptable and again said it is working tirelessly to secure her release.
“Every minute that Brittney Griner must endure wrongful detention in Russia is a minute too long," said its press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday.
"As the administration continues to work tirelessly to secure her release, the president has directed the administration to prevail on her Russian captors to improve her treatment and the conditions she may be forced to endure in a penal colony.
"As we have said before, the US government made a significant offer to the Russians to resolve the current unacceptable and wrongful detentions of American citizens."
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, was convicted on August 4 after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.
She admitted that she had the canisters in her luggage, but testified that she had inadvertently packed them in haste and that she had no criminal intent.
Her defence team presented written statements that she had been prescribed cannabis to treat pain.
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Phoenix Mercury centre Brittney Griner during the first half of Game 2 of the WNBA Finals against the Chicago Sky. AP -
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and WNBA champion, was detained at Moscow airport in February on charges of carrying in her luggage vape cartridges with cannabis oil. AFP -
Griner leaving a courtroom after a hearing in May. The Phoenix Mercury star, considered in some polls to be the US’s most gifted female athlete, could face 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs. AP -
Griner asked US President Joe Biden to free her from a Russian prison in a handwritten letter on July 4, 2022, portions of which were made public by her family. AFP -
Grineris escorted before a court hearing in Khimki outside Moscow, Russia on July 1, 2022. Reuters -
The US stepped up its push in March for consular access to Griner, who is detained in Russia on allegations of drug smuggling. AP -
Griner at the White House alongside teammates. Photo: US National Archives -
Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates with fans. Getty Images North America / AFP -
A man holds a sign for Brittney Griner Home during the first half of the WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. EPA -
Griner, a player of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury team was arrested in February at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport after some hash oil was detected and found in her luggage, for which she now could face a prison sentence of up to ten years. EPA -
Fans hold signs Griner during the first half of the WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Phoenix Mercury at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. EPA -
A sign for Griner is displayed during a game between Portland Thorns FC and Angel City FC at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images / AFP -
The Khimki City Court reportedly had extended Greiner's detention for the duration of her trial on charges of drug smuggling that started on 01 July. EPA -
Griner gestures during a game against Australia at Saitama Super Arena in their Tokyo 2020 Olympic women's basketball quarterfinal game in Saitama, Japan August 4, 2021. Reuters -
Dallas Wings' Marina Mabrey wears shoes that have a "BG" logo on them, a reference to Brittney Griner, during the second half of the team's WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Thursday, June 23, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. AP -
"We Are BG 42" is displayed on the exterior of Footprint Center before the WNBA game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Minnesota Lynx on June 21, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. Getty Images / AFP -
Minnesota Lynx's Aerial Powers wears a shirt in support of Griner during introductions for the team's WNBA basketball game against the Seattle Storm. Star Tribune / AP -
Griner poses with her gold medal in Women's Basketball at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, August 8, 2021. Reuters -
Brittney Griner with teammates Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins posing for pictures with their gold medals on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women's basketball competition of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. AFP
