Australian field hockey player gets 12-month suspension over Olympic doping allegations

Australian field hockey player Tom Craig has been suspended for 12 months over allegations of drug possession during the Paris Olympics. The suspension, imposed by Hockey Australia following an integrity investigation, includes a six-month conditional suspension after meeting specific behavioral criteria.

Hockey Australia, in a recent statement, confirmed that Craig is banned from participating in any of their sanctioned competitions, including the upcoming Hockey One League and FIH Pro League. Despite the suspension, Craig will still be eligible for selection for the national team in 2025 and will continue to receive support from the Athlete Services Program.

The move follows an incident in Paris where Craig was allegedly involved in a drug deal, which led to a brief detention. The Australian National Olympic Committee noted that Craig was released without charge but was given a warning by French authorities. The arrest came shortly after Australia’s exit from the men’s field hockey quarterfinals at the hands of the Netherlands.

Following his release, Craig issued an apology, acknowledging his mistake and accepting full responsibility for the consequences of his actions, stressing that they did not reflect the values ​​of his associates or the national team.

Tom Craig has already achieved notable success in international field hockey, winning a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and a gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Hockey Australia has stressed that protecting the welfare of athletes is a priority, while safeguarding the integrity of the sport through rigorous standards of behaviour.