Hockey Australia slap Kookaburras forward Tom Craig with six-month ban after Olympics drug bust

Kookaburras midfielder Tom Craig will be forced to serve a six-month ban from the sport after he was caught trying to buy cocaine in Paris during the Olympics.

Hockey Australia has slapped Craig with a 12-month ban, but half of that will be suspended, after completing an investigation into the incident which rocked the Olympics.

French police said the 28-year-old was spotted buying cocaine from a man in Paris’ ninth district and was found in possession of one gram of the party drug.

He spent a night in the custody of French police.

It is understood Australian players had attended a team function before the incident after both the men’s and women’s sides were bundled out in the quarterfinals.

Craig has made more than 100 appearances for the national team in a career spanning more than a decade and was part of the team that won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

The ban means Craig will not play for NSW Pride in October’s Hockey One League or in Australia’s FIH Pro League campaign across the next six months, but he will remain eligible for the country’s 2025 national team squad, expected to be named later this year.

“Following an investigation into the arrest involving national men’s hockey player team athlete Tom Craig at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Hockey Australia’s Integrity Unit has imposed a 12-month suspension,” Hockey Australia said in a statement.

“Six months of the suspension will be served fully, with the remaining six months fully suspended, contingent upon meeting conduct and behavioural requirements.”

HA says Craig will complete mandated training and education programs as part of the sanction and will continue to have access to the organisation’s support services.

“His welfare remains our priority,” the statement read.