Olympic Games star Tom Craig breaks his silence after being caught buying cocaine in Paris as new image shows the moment Aussie was busted by French cops

An Australian field hockey player has broken his silence after being caught buying cocaine in Paris.

Kookaburras striker Tom Craig, 28, was arrested on Tuesday night in the northern Pigalle area of the French capital after police spotted him purchasing drugs near a building in the 9th arrondissement. 

After spending the night in custody, Craig was released on Wednesday afternoon with no prosecution and no fine.

He made a brief statement before leaving in a vehicle provided by the Australian Olympic Committee.

‘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.’

The investigation into Craig was being carried out by the Narcotics Brigade of Paris police.

In a statement, the Australia Olympic Committee said it ‘has confirmed an Australian hockey team member is in custody after being arrested in Paris on August 6’.

Tom Craig says he ‘made a terrible mistake’ after being caught buying cocaine

A photo has shown the moment the Olympian was arrested by French cops

Tom Craig (pictured) was arrested for buying cocaine in Paris overnight on Wednesday

‘No charges have been laid,’ it said.

‘The AOC is continuing to make inquiries and arrange support for the team member.’

Craig faced a summary hearing on Wednesday night (AEST) alongside his lawyers.

It’s understood Craig was arrested just 15 minutes after leaving an Australian team function. 

An image obtained by 7News shows the moment the 28-year-old was arrested.

He can be seen sat on the pavement with his hands behind his back as officers carried out their investigation.  

The unnamed seller was described as 17-year-old who was ‘behaving like a dealer’, said a prosecuting source.

He was allegedly carrying seven vials of cocaine, 75 ecstasy tablets and three grams of Mephedrone.

As the alleged dealer is legally a minor, he cannot be named. 

Craig has represented Australia at hockey since he was a boy and was a member of the 2018 Commonwealth Games team, which won a gold medal. 

The Kookaburras striker from Lane Cove in Sydney’s north is the partner of Alice Arnott, a player on Australia’s women field hockey team – the Hockeyroos.

The couple have posted photos of each other in Paris on social media.

The Kookaburras – which won silver at the Tokyo Olympics, were eliminated from the Olympics with a quarter-final loss against the Netherlands earlier this week.

The Hockeyroos were also eliminated in less than 24 hours with a shock 3-2 quarter-final loss against China.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Hockey Australia for comment. 

Craig (pictured) is from Lane Cove in Sydney’s north and dating Alice Arnott, a player on Australia’s women field hockey team

Local prosecutors said Craig (pictured) was spotted ‘at the foot of a building in the ninth arrondissement’, shortly after midnight

Under a French law introduced in 2020, people caught with less than five grams of cocaine can can face on-the-spot fines as low as €150 (AUD$249).

The recently-adopted law still allows those convicted of serious illicit drug use charges to spend up to a year behind bars.

The rule was introduced to ‘simplify the work of law enforcement officers’ and reduce pressure on criminal courts.