Aussie Olympian who was busted buying cocaine at the Paris Games gets some shocking news on his sporting future
- Tom Craig was arrested in Paris in early August
- Was later hit with a 12-month ban as a result
Australian Olympic hockey star Tom Craig has scored a lucrative payday in the Indian Hockey League, just months after his arrest for buying cocaine on a Paris street.
Craig, 28, spent a night in custody after being arrested for buying a gram of cocaine in Paris after the Kookaburras completed their Olympic campaign.
The talented striker, who initially tried to flee from police, was later banned by Hockey Australia for 12 months.
Now Craig has landed a contract worth $35,000 to play with the Tamil Nadu Dragons in the prestigious Indian tournament.
The Aussie star’s ban by Hockey Australia only applies to hockey played in the country, so Craig is free to ply his trade elsewhere.
“During the suspension, Craig will be prohibited from playing in any match, competition or event at any level sanctioned or organized by Hockey Australia, including the upcoming Hockey One League and FIH Pro League seasons,” it said. Hockey Australia in their statement.
“In addition, Craig must complete mandatory training and education programs as part of his sanction.”
Craig has since apologized for his actions in the French capital during the Games.
Hockey star Tom Craig has scored a lucrative payday in the Indian Hockey League, just months after his very public arrest for attempting to buy cocaine on a Paris street
Craig had secured a $35,000 contract to play with the Tamil Nadu Dragons in India
“First of all, I would like to apologize for what has happened over the past 24 hours. “I made a terrible mistake and I take full responsibility for my actions,” he said.
“My actions are my own and in no way reflect the values of my family, my teammates, my friends, my sport and the Australian Olympic Committee. I have embarrassed you all and I am truly sorry.”
It is understood Craig was arrested just 15 minutes after leaving an Australian team that was eliminated from the quarter-finals of the Paris Games.
He could be seen sitting on the sidewalk with his hands behind his back as officers conducted their investigation in a photo taken shortly after his arrest.
Australian high performance director Bernard Savage met Craig while he was in police custody and said the star was suffering when he caught up with him.
The ban on hockey in Australia only applies to hockey played in Australia, so Craig (pictured left) is free to ply his trade in other countries
Craig is pictured with his partner, fellow Australian Olympic hockey player Alice Arnott
‘He was sloppy. He was tired. He was hungry. He was stressed,” Savage said.
Australian four-time Olympian Emily Seebohm offered a possible explanation for Craig’s shocking behavior when asked about the situation.
“I think it’s one of those difficult positions in sports where sometimes your sport doesn’t necessarily go the way you think it’s going to go. And there’s a post-, big-competition depression that a lot of athletes go through,” she told KIIS 97.3’s Robin & Kip radio show.
“A lot of athletes are in the stages where they’re thinking, ‘Am I going to continue? Do I have to wait four more years? Can I do it again?’ And this is the time when they’re exploring that option, whether it’s right for them or whether they want to continue.”