Tom Craig: Aussie cocaine Olympian’s shocking act when he got busted is revealed – as sport great explains what makes athletes lose their minds at the Games

Embattled Australian hockey star Tom Craig fled French police after he was caught buying cocaine in Paris on Wednesday, it has been revealed.

The 28-year-old Kookaburras striker was arrested on Tuesday evening in the northern Pigalle district of the French capital after police caught him buying drugs near a building in the 9th arrondissement.

Craig, a qualified lawyer, tried to flee from French police but realised he could not evade them, the Herald Sun.

After spending the night in custody, Craig was released Wednesday afternoon without any charges or fines.

He gave a brief statement before leaving in a vehicle provided by the Australian Olympic Committee.

“First of all, I want to apologize for what happened in the last 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 or the Australian Olympic Committee. I have caused you all embarrassment and for that I am truly sorry.”

Craig appeared in a summary proceedings hearing on Wednesday evening (AEST), along with his lawyers.

The 28-year-old is pictured with Australian hockey executive Bernard Savage (left) on his way to tell the media he had made a “terrible mistake” after being released by police.

Craig is pictured with his partner, fellow Australian Olympic hockey player Alice Arnott

Craig was reportedly arrested just 15 minutes after leaving an Australian team event after the team were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Paris Olympics.

A photo taken shortly after his arrest shows him sitting on the sidewalk with his hands behind his back as officers investigate.

Australian hockey’s top sporting director Bernard Savage met Craig when he was being held by police and said the star was struggling when he caught up with him.

“He was disheveled. 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 on Thursday when asked about the situation.

“I think it’s one of those tricky situations in sports where sometimes your sport doesn’t necessarily go the way you think it’s going to. And there’s something called post-big-meets-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, ‘Do I continue? Do I wait another four years? Can I do it again?’ And this is the time where they’re exploring that option, whether it’s the solution for them or whether they want to continue.”

Australian Olympic swimmer Emily Seebohm (pictured) said some athletes go completely off track during the Games because they fall into a major depression once their event is over.

Australian chef de mission in Paris, Anna Meares (pictured), announced that Craig has been stripped of all his Games privileges and will not be allowed to attend the closing ceremony.

Anna Meares, Australia’s chef de mission in Paris, announced Craig’s punishment in a statement on Thursday morning (AEST).

Meares said Craig was “a good person who made a bad decision, but such decisions have consequences”.

“I can’t condone what Tom did,” Meares said.

‘Our team has conducted itself in an exemplary manner during these Games and its actions do not reflect the team’s values ​​and do not detract from the performance of this team.

“He has apologized, he has shown remorse, he has admitted his mistake and we will support him if he needs help.”

She said Craig could no longer participate in the Games.

“As a result, Tom will lose all his remaining Olympic privileges. He had already moved out of the Olympic Village and I understand he had no intention of returning for the closing ceremony. If he had, he would not be able to attend,” the former champion cyclist said.

“In terms of our actions, there is not much more we can do at this point as this happened outside of the team atmosphere.”