Socceroos winger Cristian Volpato has been fined after a positive roadside drug test for cocaine in Sydney. The 22-year-old, who plays for Italian club Sassuolo, firmly maintains he never knowingly consumed the substance and later passed a follow-up test.
Volpato was issued a A$722 penalty notice by New South Wales police. The fine followed a random roadside drug test on the Anzac Bridge in Sydney on July 24. A subsequent laboratory analysis of a second sample confirmed the presence of cocaine. Police confirmed the matter was resolved with an administrative penalty notice, meaning the player faces no further criminal proceedings.
What did Cristian Volpato say about the test?
Volpato immediately contacted Football Australia officials to explain his version of events. He stated he did not intentionally ingest any banned substance. Sassuolo officials confirmed the player underwent further medical testing upon his return to the club's training base in Italy. All those subsequent results came back completely negative. Volpato remains under contract with the Serie A side until June 2028.
How has his international career progressed?
The incident brings focus to Volpato's recent switch of international allegiance from Italy to Australia. He made the change just before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after Italy failed to qualify for the tournament for a third consecutive time. He made his senior debut in a pre-tournament friendly against Switzerland and secured a place in Graham Arnold's final squad. During the World Cup, Volpato featured in group stage matches against the United States and Paraguay. He also played for 74 minutes in Australia's Round of 32 penalty shootout defeat to Egypt. You can view the squad list composition on our squad page.
What is his current fitness situation?
Volpato's immediate focus is on recovering from a hamstring injury. He was forced off early in Sassuolo's Serie A match against Bologna this week. After making three league appearances this season, he will be sidelined temporarily. The club's medical staff are monitoring his recovery closely to ensure he is ready for a busy autumn fixture schedule. Fans can track his return and the team's upcoming matches on our fixtures page.
His World Cup involvement was a significant step, and he will be aiming to regain full fitness to compete for a regular starting role on the right flank. The Socceroos have a number of promising wingers in the setup, and competition for places is strong. Volpato's contract with Sassuolo runs for another two seasons.
