Thomas Craig, a member of the Australian field hockey team, is speaking out after being arrested in Paris for allegedly buying cocaine.
After Australia was eliminated from medal contention, Craig left He attended a team meeting on Tuesday and was arrested 15 minutes later.
“Firstly, I would like to apologize for what happened over the last 24 hours. I made a terrible mistake and I take full responsibility for my actions,” Craig said. Said Reporters outside the police station.
“My actions are my own and do not reflect the values of my family, teammates, friends, sport or the Australian Olympic team. I have embarrassed you all and for that I am truly sorry.”
Craig was not convinced and received a warning from the French judge.
The Australian Olympic Committee released a statement expressing disappointment in Craig.
“We cannot condone Tom’s actions – he is a good man who made a bad decision – but decisions like this have consequences,” Australian mission chief Anna Mears said in a statement carried by Reuters.
“As a result, Tom will lose all his remaining Olympic rights. He has already moved out of the Olympic Village and we have been told he has no intention of returning to the Closing Ceremony and would not be able to attend if he did.”
“Our team has performed exemplary throughout the tournament and his actions do not reflect the team’s values or diminish its performance.”
“On the night of August 6th to 7th, officers witnessed a cocaine transaction at the foot of a building in the 9th arrondissement of Paris and arrested the seller, born in December 2006, and the Australian buyer, born in September 1995,” the Paris police statement said.
Craig, who won a silver medal with Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has played more than 100 times for Australia.
Reuters contributed to this article.
