Poppy Bilderbeck
Australian hockey player Tom Craig has spoken out after being arrested on suspicion of buying cocaine while in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games.
On Tuesday (August 6), the Paris prosecutor's office revealed police officers witnessed a 'cocaine transaction' near the 9th arrondissement of Paris, France and had taken two people into custody.
A spokesperson for the Paris public prosecutors office told The Guardian officers apprehended both the person selling the drugs - reported as being born in December 2006 - and the buyer - 'born in September 1995'.
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The prosecutor's office claimed the buyer was 'a member of the Australian field hockey team' and added the case was handed over to the anti-narcotics police.
Australia's Chef de mission Anna Meares said members of Australia's men's hockey team, named the Kookaburras, 'heard the commotion' and saw Craig had been arrested, speaking to police and arresting officers, before following Craig to the station 'concerned' for his welfare.
"From there, they reached out to Tom’s family who reached out to our lawyers," she added.
Craig was released the following day. It's reported he received a warning, but no charge or fine.
And now, the Olympic athlete has addressed the controversy.
Craig told news reporters upon leaving police custody: "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.
"My actions are my own and in no way reflect the values of my family, my team-mates, my friends, my sport, and the Australian Olympic team. I've embarrassed you all. I'm truly sorry."
Hockey Australia high performance director Bernard Strange added it's the team's 'understanding that Tom was acting alone and the only events that brought the players or him to the players attention was him indeed being arrested'.
Australia's men's and women's hockey teams were knocked out of the games at the quarter-final stage and Craig had subsequently already moved out of the Olympic village.
However, it's reported he will lose all remaining privileges too, such as no longer being allowed to attend the closing ceremony.
Meares reflected on Craig as 'a good person who made a bad decision' however, she noted 'there are consequences for decisions like this'.
She resolved: "Athletes are very welcome, and they should be able to go out and celebrate, that’s not an un-normal thing. It’s the simple actions and the decision here for Tom [that is the problem], and he’s owned up to that.
"[...] "He has apologised, shown remorse, he has owned up to his mistake, and we will support him if he needs help."
Hockey Australia is reportedly still investigating the incident, set to launch a disciplinary procedure.
UNILAD has contacted Hockey Australia and the Paris Prosecutor's Office for comment.