Although the judicial authority initially did not disclose the name of the athlete involved, French media reported this morning that it is Thomas Craig, 28, who competed in the quarter-final match last Sunday, where the Australian team lost to the Netherlands.

Craig was allegedly arrested around midnight in the tourist district of Pigalle, located in the northern part of the city, where a police search was being conducted as part of an operation against drug trafficking. According to the radio station Franceinfo, the player was caught red-handed with a gram of cocaine after paying for the drug.

The arrest caused enormous surprise and indignation among fans, as Craig, highly respected in the sporting world, was one of the Oceanian athletes with the best chances of winning a medal at the start of the Olympic Games. The incident places him in a difficult situation that could jeopardise his career.

The Australian Olympic Committee expressed its shock and disappointment at the incident and stated that all necessary measures are being taken to address the matter appropriately. Local authorities are still investigating the case and emphasise that strict measures will be taken against anyone involved in illegal activities.

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) stated in a communiqué that "a member of the Australian hockey team is in custody following his arrest in Paris on 6 August." The organisation also expressed its shock and disappointment at the events and declared that all necessary measures are being taken to address the matter appropriately.

Local authorities continue to investigate the case and stress that the law will be enforced against anyone involved in illegal activities. Specifically, the Paris police's anti-narcotics brigade is conducting the investigation and has already found that the seller who supplied the drug to the athlete is a 17-year-old in possession of seven vials of cocaine, 75 ecstasy pills, and three grams of mephedrone.

The legal and disciplinary consequences for Craig, who was still in custody on Wednesday morning, are yet to be determined. French legislation introduced in 2020 states that people caught with less than five grams of cocaine may face an immediate fine of €150.

Craig is a veteran hockey player who has made 101 appearances for the Australian national team during a 10-year career. He was part of the Australian team that won a silver medal at the last Tokyo 2020 Games and also won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.