Tom Craig, an Australian Olympic hockey player, has been prohibited from attending the closing ceremony following his arrest and a night spent in a Paris police station. This occurred due to his alleged attempt to purchase cocaine in the streets of the French capital.
Further disciplinary actions are anticipated from Hockey Australia, which is initiating a formal investigation into the incident that took place while Craig was out with fellow Kookaburras teammates.
An experienced player, Craig was released on Wednesday evening after receiving a warning, but he was not fined and has no criminal record.
Bernard Strange, the high performance director of Hockey Australia, mentioned that the other players were unaware of Craig’s actions. “It is our understanding that Tom was acting independently, and the only reason the other players became aware was due to his arrest,” he stated.
Anna Meares, the chef de mission, shared that the group of players witnessed Craig’s arrest and followed him to the police station. “They heard the noise, went outside and saw that Tom had been detained. They talked with the police officers, were able to accompany him to the police station for his well-being, and then contacted Tom’s family, who reached out to our legal team,” she explained.
This incident occurred after a gathering for family and friends at a Montmartre hotel to celebrate the conclusion of the Olympic campaigns of the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras, both of which were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Paris Games.
Craig was not released until Wednesday evening. Meares stated that his release followed standard procedures and dismissed the idea that his time in custody was unusually lengthy.
She refrained from naming the other players involved, considering it “unfair.” “Athletes are encouraged to celebrate and have fun, which is not unusual,” she stated. “The problematic part lies solely with Tom’s choices, and he acknowledges that.”
Upon his release, Craig spoke to the media. “Firstly, I want to apologize for what has transpired in the last 24 hours,” he said in a short statement outside the police station. “I made a grave mistake and accept full responsibility for my actions.
“My actions are my own and do not reflect the values of my family, teammates, friends, sport, or the Australian Olympic team. I have embarrassed all of you, and I am sincerely sorry.”
According to the Paris public prosecutors office, police observed a drug transaction in the ninth arrondissement of the city on Tuesday night, leading to the arrest of two individuals.
“The police arrested the seller, born in December 2006, and the buyer, born in September 1995 in Australia and believed to be a member of the Australian field hockey team,” a spokesperson said.
“Due to the amounts of narcotics seized from the seller, the narcotics brigade is handling the investigation. Both individuals are in police custody.”
This was Craig’s second Olympic appearance after securing a silver medal at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
This incident concludes a disappointing Olympic journey for both of Australia’s hockey squads.
The Kookaburras lost 2-0 to the Netherlands in their quarter-final on Sunday, while the Hockeyroos fell to China 3-2 on Monday, after both teams entered the tournament with hopes of winning medals.
In accordance with the regulations at the Olympic Village in Tokyo, athletes were expected to vacate their rooms within 48 hours after their competitions ended.
Meares mentioned that she has sent a warning to all sporting teams following this incident. “I reached out to all our sports, reminding them that no one is exempt from making poor decisions that can lead to trouble, urging them to contact us if any issues arise, which could help us assist them. It’s essential to recognize that not only their reputations but also those of their sports and the entire Australian Olympic team are on the line,” she added.
