French Police release Australia hockey player Thomas Craig after cocaine bust

Australian Olympic hockey player Thomas Craig, 28, was released from police custody on Wednesday after being arrested in Paris for purchasing cocaine. Craig, a silver medallist from the Tokyo Olympics and a veteran with over 100 matches for the national team, issued an apology to his family and teammates following the incident. Craig was arrested by the French Police on the night of August 6.

Craig was detained after the Kookaburras, Australia’s men’s hockey team, were eliminated from the Paris Olympics in the quarter-finals by the Netherlands on Sunday. French police reportedly found Craig in possession of about one gram of cocaine. He has now been released from custody and quickly took responsibility for his actions. As quoted by Reuters, the 28-year-old said that he made a terrible mistake and his actions don’t reflect the values of his family, teammates and the Australian Olympic team.

“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.

Dominic Sullivan, a spokesperson for the Australian team, confirmed that Craig received a warning from French authorities and was released without conviction. The Australian National Olympic Committee also confirmed the warning issued by a French judge.

Australia’s Chef de Mission Anna Meares said that she cannot condon the actions of Craig and he would be losing all his remaining Olympic privileges. Meares said that Craig wouldn’t be able to attend the closing ceremony, even though he wasn’t planning to initially.

“I cannot condone what Tom has done. He is a good person who made a bad decision. But there are consequences for decisions like this,” Australia’s Chef de Mission Anna Meares said in the statement.

“As a result, Tom will lose all his remaining Olympic privileges. He had already moved out of the Olympic Village, and I understand he was not intending to return for the Closing Ceremony. If he were, he would not be able to attend.

“Our team has been exemplary at these Games and his actions do not reflect the values of the team nor does it diminish this team’s performance.”

While the Paris prosecutor’s office acknowledged that an Australian athlete had been detained for purchasing cocaine, there was no immediate response from the International Hockey Federation, the sport’s global governing body.

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