New Delhi: Australian hockey player Tom Craig has been banned from playing the sport for 12 months following his arrest during the Paris 2024 Olympics for allegedly buying cocaine.
Craig is compelled to serve half of the ban with the remaining six months suspended which depends upon meeting conduct and behavioural requirements.
According to Hockey Australia, the ban began on 9 September. After serving the suspension time, the 29-year-old will be eligible for the 2025 national men’s squad, which is scheduled to be announced at the end of the year.
Craig scores own goal with ‘Drug-flick’
After being arrested on suspicion of buying cocaine on Paris streets by the French police, Craig was released without charge after being warned by a judge. He was caught allegedly trying to buy cocaine days after Australia lost their Olympic quarter-final in the French capital.
A Hockey Australia statement said that despite the ban, Craig is required to complete mandatory training and education programmes as part of his sanction.
The statement further said that Craig will be given full access to all of the athlete support services under the Cricket Australia programme He will work closely with the hockey federation throughout his suspension with “his welfare” top on Hockey Australia’s priority list.
Following the drug fiasco, Craig admitted he had “made a terrible mistake”. After his release from the custody, he apologised to his family, friends, teammates and Australia’s Olympic team.
Commenting on the strange incident, Australia’s chef de mission Anna Meares came out in support and said that Craig is “a good person who made a bad decision”.
Craig has made more than 100 appearances for Australia and helped them win the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo.
The Kookaburras were knocked out of the Paris Games after suffering a 2-0 loss to the Netherlands in the quarterfinals.
The Aussies, who lost to Belgium and India during the group stage, returned home empty-handed for just the second time since 1992.
Cocaine Arrest: After serving the suspension time, Tom Craig will be eligible for the 2025 national men’s squad, which is scheduled to be announced at the end of the year. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
