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Australian field hockey player Tom Craig (C) is seen after his release from the Prefecture of Police following his arrest for allegedly attempting to buy cocaine on the streets in Paris, France, 07 August 2024. Craig was arrested on 06 August night for allegedly attempting to buy cocaine on a street in Paris. EPA-EFE/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT
Craig, 28, a silver medallist at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, has played more than 100 games for the national side. The men’s team, known as the Kookaburras, were knocked out of the Paris Olympics on Sunday in the quarter-finals by the Netherlands.
“I’d firstly like to apologise for what has occurred in the last 24 hours. I made a terrible mistake. I take full responsibility for my actions,” Craig said as he left police offices.
“My actions are my own and in no way, reflect the values of my family, my teammates, my friends, my sport, and the Australian Olympic team. I’ve embarrassed you all. I’m truly sorry,” he added.
Police issued Craig with a warning, said Dominic Sullivan, spokesperson for the Australian team.
French media cited police sources as saying Craig had bought about one gram of cocaine.
There was no immediate comment from the International Hockey Federation, the sport’s global governing body.
Earlier, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that an Australian athlete had been detained for buying cocaine.
“Police officers who witnessed a cocaine transaction at the foot of a building in the ninth arrondissement (of Paris), on the night of August 6 to 7, arrested the seller, born in December 2006, and the buyer, born in September 1995 in Australia,” prosecutors said.
(Additional reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber, Nick Mulvenney, Forrest Crellin, Leigh Thomas; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Toby Davis, Christian Radnedge and Ed Osmond)
