Australian national team midfielder Cristian Volpato tested positive for cocaine during a police check in Sydney, Australia, on the night of July 23.
According to the BBC, Cristian Volpato (22) was stopped by New South Wales police at 11:05 PM on July 23 while driving a BMW Coupe at speeds of 86–94 km/h, well above the 60 km/h limit.
A roadside breathalyzer test showed that Volpato had not been drinking.
About two hours later, Volpato was stopped by police again for driving at 109 km/h (where the limit was 60 km/h).
During this check, Cristian Volpato’s saliva sample tested positive for cocaine.
Police stated that Volpato was cited for speeding and his international driving permit was suspended for six months.
Authorities collected a second saliva sample for confirmatory analysis, and the investigation is ongoing.
As the results of the second saliva sample test have not yet been released, there is no final conclusion regarding the allegations of cocaine use against Volpato.
Volpato was a member of the Australian squad at the 2026 World Cup, where he played in three of the Socceroos’ four matches.
Born in Australia, Volpato played for Italian youth teams before joining the Socceroos for the 2026 World Cup.
At the club level, Volpato joined Sassuolo in 2023 and made 24 appearances in the Italian league (Serie A) during the 2025-2026 season, helping the team finish in 11th place.
Football Australia stated that it has contacted the player and will continue to monitor the situation while providing support to Volpato throughout the investigation.
Meanwhile, Professional Footballers Australia confirmed it is aware of the matter and assured that Volpato will receive the necessary support.
Sassuolo has not yet commented on the incident