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Australian hockey Olympian arrested over suspected cocaine purchase / Photo: William WEST - AFP
Australian hockey Olympian arrested over suspected cocaine purchase
French police arrested Australian Olympic field hockey player Tom Craig on suspicion of buying cocaine from a drug dealer in central Paris, police and prosecutors said Wednesday.
Midfielder Craig, 28, last played for Australia on Sunday in his team's quarter-final defeat to the Netherlands at the Paris Olympics.
A police source said he was arrested Wednesday around 00:30 am (2230 GMT) after "a cocaine transaction" near an apartment building.
He was in possession of around one gram of cocaine, said the source, asking not to be named.
The seller, 17, who was carrying several types of drugs in addition to the cocaine, including 75 ecstasy pills and synthetic drugs, was also arrested.
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said in a statement later Wednesday that Craig had been released without charge but had been given a warning by a judge.
"He has apologised, shown remorse, he has owned up to his mistake, and we will support him if he needs help," said chef de mission Anna Meares.
"As a result, Tom will lose all his remaining Olympic privileges. He had already moved out of the Olympic Village, and I understand he was not intending to return for the Closing Ceremony. If he were, he would not be able to attend."
The International Olympic Committee declined to comment on the arrest at its daily press conference.
K.Morrison--SMC
