- 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 Olympics campaign.
The talented striker, who initially tried to run from police, was later suspended for 12 months by Hockey Australia.
Now Craig has secured a $35,000 contract to play with the Tamil Nadu Dragons in the prestigious Indian tournament.
The Aussie star’s ban by Hockey Australia only extends to hockey played within 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 organised by Hockey Australia, including the upcoming Hockey One League and FIH Pro League seasons,’ said Hockey Australia in their statement.
‘Additionally, Craig is required to complete mandatory training and education programs as part of his sanction’.
Craig has since apologised 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 landed a $35,000 contract to play with the Tamil Nadu Dragons in India
‘I’d firstly like to apologise for what has occurred 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’ve embarrassed you all and I’m truly sorry.’
It’s understood Craig was arrested just 15 minutes after leaving an Australian team function, with the side knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Paris Games.
He could be seen sitting on the pavement with his hands behind his back as officers carried out their investigation in an image taken just after he was arrested.
Australian hockey high performance director Bernard Savage met Craig when he was in police custody and said the star was suffering when he caught up with him.
Hockey Australia’s ban only extends to hockey played within Australia, so Craig (pictured left) is free to ply his trade in other countries
Craig is pictured with his partner, fellow Aussie Olympian hockey star Alice Arnott
‘He was dishevelled. He was tired. He was hungry. He was stressed,’ Savage said.
Australian four-time Olympian Emily Seebohm gave a possible explanation for Craig’s shocking behaviour when she was asked about the situation.
‘I think it’s one of those tough positions in sport where sometimes your sport doesn’t go necessarily the way you think it’s going to go. And there is like a post, big meet competition depression that a lot of athletes go through,’ she told KIIS 97.3’s Robin & Kip radio show.
‘A lot of athletes are the stages where they’re like, “Do I go on? 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 going to be it for them, or they want to keep going.’
