PARIS — A member of the Australian Olympic field hockey team was given a criminal warning in Paris after trying to buy cocaine, allowing him to be released from custody, prosecutors said Wednesday.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said in a statement that police interrupted a drug transaction outside a building in the 9th arrondissement of Paris overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday. They said the investigation has been turned over to a police anti-drug unit for investigation.
The alleged buyer was a 28-year-old member of the Australian field hockey team, prosecutors said. The 17-year-old alleged seller was also taken into custody.
The Olympic athlete was brought later Wednesday in front of a magistrate to be given a criminal warning, Paris prosecutors said.
Under French law, a criminal warning is an alternative to prosecution meant for first-time offenders, on condition they admit their guilt and don’t commit another crime within the next two years.
The Australian Olympic Committee said in a statement that no charges had been filed and said it is “continuing to make enquiries and arrange support for the Team member.”
Neither Australian offic…