Paris Olympics 2024: Australian hockey player arrested on suspicion of buying cocaine

Paris Olympics 2024: Australian Olympic field hockey player Tom Craig has been arrested on suspicion of buying cocaine from a drug dealer in central Paris, French police and prosecutors said on Wednesday. 

The 28-year-old midfielder last played for Australia in Sunday's quarter-final loss to the Netherlands at the Paris Olympics. A police source claimed he was arrested Wednesday at 00:30 a.m. (2230 GMT) after "a cocaine transaction" near an apartment building.

He was in possession of around one gram of cocaine when caught and remained in police custody early Wednesday, according to the source, who asked not to be named.

In addition to the cocaine, the seller, who is 17, was carrying 75 ecstasy pills and synthetic drugs. He was also arrested.

Given the large quantity of drugs found on the seller, prosecutors said the case has been handed to the French police's anti-narcotics unit.

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) stated that one Australian hockey team member "is in custody" after being arrested in Paris on Tuesday.

"No charges have been laid," it stated. "The AOC is continuing to make enquiries and arrange support for the Team member," it states.

The International Olympic Committee declined to comment on the arrest during its morning press briefing.

"The Australian men's hockey team's run at the Paris 2024 Olympics ended in the quarter-finals after they went down 2-0 to the Netherlands in the early hours on Monday," according to Olympic.com.