MELBOURNE, Sept 11 V7N- Australian Olympic hockey player Tom Craig has received a 12-month ban, with six months suspended, following his arrest in Paris for attempting to buy cocaine during the Olympic Games. The ban, announced by Hockey Australia (HA), took effect on Monday and is the result of an investigation by the organization's integrity unit into the incident that occurred last month.

According to HA, six months of the suspension will be served fully, while the remaining six months will be suspended contingent upon Craig meeting specific conduct and behavioral requirements. Additionally, he is required to complete mandatory training and education programs.Despite the ban from competition, Craig remains eligible for selection for the 2025 national squad, which is expected to be announced later this year.

After being released from police custody with a warning, Craig expressed remorse to his family and teammates and promptly moved out of the athletes' village.The 29-year-old has represented Australia in over 100 games and was part of the team that won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Following his arrest, he apologized publicly, acknowledging his "terrible mistake" and taking full responsibility for his actions.The incident occurred shortly after Craig left a team event, where he was arrested for attempting to purchase cocaine from a 17-year-old dealer in the ninth arrondissement of Paris.

Police witnessed the transaction, leading to Craig's arrest, although he was released without a fine or criminal record.Hockey Australia has stated that Craig's actions do not reflect the values of the organization, and the Australian Olympic Committee has confirmed that he has lost all Olympic privileges as a result of the incident.

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