Australian hockey player Tom Craig has apologised after being released in Paris following his arrest for allegedly buying cocaine.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said an individual was arrested Tuesday evening for buying cocaine in the 9th arrondissement.
Craig was released with a warning and did not receive a conviction or fine.
“First of all, I would like to apologize for what has happened over the last 24 hours. I made a terrible mistake. I take full responsibility for my actions,” Craig said as he left police headquarters.
“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 have brought shame on them all. I am truly sorry.”
Craig, 28, won silver at the 2020 Tokyo Games and has competed in more than 100 competitions for Australia.
The head of mission of Australia Ana Meares She said she was “glad” Craig had been released but “cannot tolerate” what he had done.
He added: “He’s a good person who made a bad decision. But decisions like this have consequences.”
“He has apologized, he has shown remorse, he has acknowledged his mistake and we will support him if he needs help.”
Meares said Craig had already moved out of the Olympic Village and will lose his remaining Games privileges.
Before his release, the prosecutor’s office said: “Police officers who witnessed a cocaine transaction at the foot of a building in the 9th 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 and who is believed to be a member of the Australian field hockey team.
“Given the quantity of drugs seized from the dealer, the investigation has been entrusted to the anti-narcotics police.”
Australia’s men’s and women’s hockey teams have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage at Paris 2024.
