Australian hockey player Tom Craig gets 12-month ban after attempting to buy cocaine at Paris Olympics 2024
Australian men’s hockey team player Tom Craig has been handed a suspension of 12 months. He received the sentence after being arrested in France for attempting to purchase cocaine during the Paris Olympics 2024.
“Following an investigation into the arrest involving national men’s hockey team athlete Tom Craig at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Hockey Australia’s Integrity Unit has imposed a 12-month suspension,” Hockey Australia (HA) said in a statement.
HA said 29-year-old Craig will serve six months of his ban, with the other half being suspended related to certain criteria being met.
“Six months of this suspension will be served fully, with the remaining six months fully suspended, contingent upon meeting conduct and behavioural requirements,” the HA’s statement read.
The decision to ban Tom Craig came into effect after an investigation by the HA’s integrity unit. The ban has been in place since Monday, September 9. Despite the suspension, Craig will be eligible to be named in Australia's 2025 national team squad, which is scheduled to be announced at the end of this year.
Craig, who won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, has been an integral part of Australia's midfield, earning over 100 caps for the national team.
When did Tom Craig attempt to purchase cocaine?
As per media reports, Tom Craig was arrested by French police after he was caught attempting to purchase cocaine on August 7 following the conclusion of the Australian team’s Paris 2024 journey.
The Australian men’s hockey team finished sixth in the Paris Olympics 2024.
After his arrest, Craig was released from detention without any charges, but a French judge gave a warning to the player as a result of his actions.
The midfielder has since apologized to his family, friends, colleagues, and fans for his self-described ‘terrible mistake’.
It will be interesting to see how he is received by his teammates and fans once he fully serves his ban and returns to the hockey pitch.