Tom Craig at the Paris Olympics 2024 [L]; Craig poses before the Olympics | Instagram@tumcraig

Why was Australian hockey player Tom Craig arrested at the Paris Olympics? All about the 28-year-old's controversy

Modified Aug 07, 2024 11:48 GMT

Australian hockey player Tom Craig was reportedly arrested in Paris after the team missed out on winning the medal at the Paris Olympics. According to reports, the Australian hockey player was allegedly caught trying to buy cocaine in Paris, due to which he was taken into custody.

The Australian Olympic Committee confirmed that a player has been taken into custody during the Paris Olympics, and released an official statement about the same. The Committee, however, has not shared the name of the athlete involved.

“The Australian Olympic Committee has confirmed an Australian hockey team member is in custody after being arrested in Paris on August 6th. No charges have been laid. The AOC is continuing to make enquiries and arrange support for the team member.”

The police released an official statement revealing that the player was arrested outside a building, where police officers witnessed cocaine transactions.

“Police officers who witnessed a cocaine transaction at the foot of a building in the 9th arrondissement, 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 said to be a member of the Australian field hockey team. With regard to the quantities of narcotics seized from the seller, the investigations have been entrusted to the Narcotics Squad,” read the official statement (via the Sydney Morning Herald).

Craig has been a part of the Australian Hockey team and played in 101 matches throughout his 10-year-old career.

Australian Men's hockey team's performance at the Paris Olympics

A still from a hockey match between Australia and the Netherlands from the Olympic Games Paris 2024 (Source: Getty)

The Australian men's hockey team for the Paris Olympics was led by Aran Zalewski. The Kookaburras squad for Paris Olympics 2024 boasted players with great experience like Eddie Ockenden who made his fifth Olympic appearance in Paris.

After winning the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the team marched on to Paris in a quest to for the gold medal. The team won the country's last Olympic medal in the Athens Olympics2004. After beginning their campaign against Argentina, the team registered subsequent wins against Ireland and New Zealand.

The team lost their pool b match to Belgium with a score of 2-6. The Australian men's hockey team lost their pool match to India in a thrilling match with a score of 2-3. The Kookaburras' dream to win a medal at the Paris Olympics was shattered after the team lost to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals with a score of 0-2.