Australian Hockey Athlete Arrested by Paris Police After Caught Buying Cocaine

UNSPLASH/Klim Musalimov ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Australian national team hockey athlete Sam Craig was arrested by Paris police after being caught buying cocaine.

In an AFP report reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 7, a police source said he had arrested Sam Craig at 00.30 a.m. local time after the player was suspected of carrying out a cocaine transaction near an apartment building in Paris.

Sam Craig was arrested and proven to have about one gram of cocaine. The 17-year-old seller, who carries several types of drugs other than cocaine, including 75 ecstasy pills and synthetic drugs, was also arrested.

"Given the large number of drugs found in sellers, the investigation has been submitted to French police anti-narcotic brigades," prosecutors wrote.

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) confirmed a member of the Australian hockey team was "detained" after being arrested in Paris on Tuesday.

"No charges have been dropped. The AOC continues to carry out investigations and regulates support for team members," wrote the AOC's official statement.

The International Olympic Committee declined to comment on the arrests at its daily press conference.

Craig, who played midfielder, last played for Australia on Sunday when his team lost to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the Paris Olympics.