Director Ben Proudfoot, who won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short, used his acceptance speech to urge US President Joe Biden to “bring Brittney Griner home”.Proudfoot received the Best Documentary Short accolade for The Queen of Basketball, which tells the story of Lucy Harris, a professional female basketball player who became the first woman to be selected in an NBA Draft.After accepting his Oscar, Proudfoot dedicated the award to Harris and her family, before pointing out that it would shut down those who doubted women’s sport."If there is anyone out there who doubts that there is an audience for female athletes and questions whether their stories are valuable or entertaining or important … let this Academy Award be the answer," he said.At the end of the speech, Proudfoot addressed Biden directly: “President Biden, bring Britney Griner home.”Griner, considered one of the best female basketball players in the world, is detained in Russia on drug charges.The Russian Federal Customs Service confirmed earlier this month that the 31-year-old was arrested in February at the Sheremetyevo Alexander S Pushkin International Airport.

She was detained after vape cartridges containing hashish oil were allegedly found in her bag.

Griner is set to remain under arrest in Moscow until at least May after a court granted an extension for investigators, as reported by Russia’s state news agency TASS.

She could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of bringing drugs into Russia.

Griner, a Phoenix Mercury star, has won WNBA, Euroleague and Olympic titles. She spends her off-season competing in Russia, most recently for UMMC Ekaterinburg.

Off the court, Griner is seen as an LGBTQ+ icon. She came out publicly aged 22, and soon after became the first openly gay athlete to be endorsed by Nike.

There are fears the basketball star could be used as a “high-profile hostage” after the US placed sanctions on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine last month.

Proudfoot joins an array of high-profile figures calling for the safe return of Griner, including tennis legend Billie Jean King.

The 12-time Grand Slam winner posted on Twitter: “Brittney Griner has been on my mind all the time. We must do everything in our power to amplify her story and bring her home.

“Sending peace and strength to Brittney, and love to her wife and family.”