PARIS - Australia hockey player Tom Craig has received a warning but no charge after being caught buying cocaine in Paris.
Craig, 28, spent Tuesday night in custody after he was arrested by police, but was released on Wednesday with no prosecution and no fine.
Anna Meares, Australia’s chef de mission at the Paris Olympics, said: "I can confirm that Australian hockey player Tom Craig was released tonight with no conviction but a warning from a French judge.
"I am glad the matter has been resolved and that Tom has been released.
"I cannot condone what Tom has done. He is a good person who made a bad decision. But there are consequences for decisions like this.
"Our team has been exemplary at these Games and his actions do not reflect the values of the team, nor does it diminish this team’s performance.
"He has apologised, shown remorse, he has owned up to his mistake, and we will support him if he needs help.”
Meares confirmed that Craig will lose all his remaining privileges at Paris 2024 and had already moved out of the Olympic Village.
She added: "I understand he was not intending to return for the closing ceremony. If he were, he would not be able to attend.
"In terms of our actions, at this point there is not much further we can do as this happened outside the team environment.”
Striker Craig was part of the Kookaburras side beaten 2-0 by the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the Olympic men’s hockey tournament on Sunday. - DPA