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Beijing, August 8 (Xinhua) -- Tom Craig, an Australian hockey player participating in the Paris Olympics, was detained by French police early that morning on suspicion of buying cocaine, according to police and prosecutors in Paris, France, on August 7. Craig was eventually only given a warning instead of charges and was released on the same day. Craig has now moved out of the Olympic Village and will not be able to attend the closing ceremony of this Olympics.

Spectators watched the game at the Eiffel Tower on August 4. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wu Huiwo

AFP quoted French police sources as saying that Craig, a 28-year-old Australian hockey midfielder, was arrested near an apartment building in central Paris at around 0:30 local time on the 7th. Police suspected that he bought cocaine from a 17-year-old drug dealer.

The police source, who requested anonymity, said Craig was caught with about a gram of cocaine. The dealer was also caught with several other drugs, including ecstasy and synthetic drugs.

The Paris Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed in a notice that an Australian athlete was detained on suspicion of buying drugs, and police witnessed him conducting drug transactions in the corner of a building in the 9th arrondissement of Paris from late night on the 6th to the early morning of the 7th. The notice did not name the athlete.

Craig had just played for the Australian hockey team in the quarter-final against the Netherlands on the 4th. When he left the police station, he told reporters: "I want to apologize for what happened in the past 24 hours. I made a terrible mistake and I take full responsibility for my actions." He also said that his personal behavior "does not reflect the values ​​of my family, teammates, hockey and the Australian Olympic team. I am sorry to have brought shame on you."

The Australian Olympic Committee said late on the 7th that Craig was not formally charged in the end and was released after being warned by the judge.

Anna Miyares, head of the Australian delegation, said Craig had apologized, expressed remorse and admitted his mistakes. Craig will bear the consequences and lose his treatment in the remaining Olympic Games. "He has moved out of the Olympic Village. As far as I understand, he has no intention of returning to participate in the closing ceremony of the Olympics, and even if he wants to, he cannot participate." (Shen Min)