Mitch Creek’s Tokyo Olympic hopes remain alive after Victorian police withdrew assault charges
Mitch Creek could still represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympics after having his alleged assault charges dropped
Basketball
Don't miss out on the headlines from Basketball. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Mitch Creek’s Tokyo Olympic hopes remain alive after Victorian police withdrew assault charges against the South East Melbourne Phoenix co-captain.
Creek is free to move forward after police dropped all charges against him on Wednesday following allegations he had assaulted a woman in November last year.
The NBL originally stood down the Phoenix star after mutual agreement when charges were laid, but this was challenged by Creek’s lawyers, resulting in him being reinstated as a player.
Now he could represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympics after those dreams were initially in grave doubt when he was charged.
Under Australian Olympic Committee policy, he would be ineligible to be a member of the Australian Boomers Olympic team after being charged with a violent offence.
However, this stance could change now that Creek’s assault charges have been dropped.
A Basketball Australia spokeswoman said the organisation’s integrity unit would continue reviewing the matter.
“Basketball Australia is aware that the charges levelled against Mitch Creek have been withdrawn,” she said.
“The Basketball Australia Integrity Unit will review the matter to determine if any further action is required.”
The NBL also provided a statement on Creek after his assault allegations were withdrawn.
“The NBL and South East Melbourne Phoenix are aware that all charges against Mitch Creek were today withdrawn by Victoria Police prosecutors in the Sunshine Magistrates Court,” the statement said about Creek, who played with the Brooklyn Nets and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA in the 2018-19 season.
“The NBL has been informed by Basketball Australia that its Integrity Unit will review the matter to determine if any further action is required.”
Wearing a white shirt and sitting beside two lawyers, Creek appeared emotional and to be holding back tears on the audiovisual link over which he appeared in the Sunshine Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
It has been a difficult period for the veteran forward as he dealt with serious assault allegations hanging over his head.
He mutually agreed to step down as South East Melbourne co-captain while he received boos from fans across the league, some who felt that he should be stood down until the charges were dropped.
During this period, the Australian Basketball Players’ Association also refused to rule out introducing a stand-down policy, just months after knocking back Basketball Australia’s attempt to implement one as Creek continued to play with assault charges hanging over his head.
Basketball Australia proactively sought to introduce a policy in November 2020 to provisionally suspend persons charged with relevant criminal offences as part of the sport’s national integrity framework.
There were no known incidents at the time, but game’s governing body wanted to take the lead of the NRL with a strong stand-down stance.
This policy was tabled with the Australian Basketball Players’ Association in good faith to seek to present a unified position on such issues, but the Players’ Association did not agree with introducing such a policy at the time.
It remains to be seen if Basketball Australia will continue to pursue the introduction of such a policy given Creek’s charges have been dropped.
It’s also understood the Phoenix lost sponsorship following Creek’s alleged assault charges.
It remains to be seen whether the sponsorship will return now that the forward’s charges have been withdrawn.
Originally published as Mitch Creek’s Tokyo Olympic hopes remain alive after Victorian police withdrew assault charges
Celebrities lose it after huge NBA victory
The stars were out in force as the New York Knicks sealed a drought-breaking NBA win, sparking wild celebrations across the city.
The drought is over! Knicks crush rivals in 25-year first
The New York Knicks are off to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000 as they thrashed rivals the Boston Celtics in game six at Madison Square Garden.