Australian hockey player Tom Craig banned for 12 months following drug arrest in Paris

Australian hockey player Tom Craig received a 12-month ban, with six months suspended, by Hockey Australia (HA) following his arrest in Paris for purchasing cocaine. The ban began on Monday after HA's integrity unit investigated Craig’s actions during the recent Paris Olympics.The terms of the ban require Craig to serve six months fully, with the remaining six months suspended if he meets conduct and behavioral standards. He must also complete mandatory training and education programs.Despite the ban, Craig remains eligible for selection for the 2025 national squad, to be announced later this year. Hockey Australia clarified that while Craig is banned from competition, his career in the sport is not over.Craig, who has over 100 international caps and won a silver medal with the Australian team at the Tokyo Olympics, apologized to his family and teammates after his release from police custody. He moved out of the athletes' village following the incident and expressed regret over his actions.Hockey Australia emphasized its commitment to integrity and maintaining high standards of conduct for all players.