Australian World Cup Star Volpato Fined over Positive Cocaine Test
Football Australia is seeking independent verification as Volpato faces possible national team suspension after police confirmed a second positive cocaine test.
- On September 1, 2026, NSW Police issued Socceroos star Cristian Volpato a $722 fine after his secondary oral fluid test returned positive for cocaine, following a traffic stop on Anzac Bridge in late July.
- Volpato and his supporters initially insisted the roadside drug test provided a false positive, with lawyer Paul McGirr stating the 22-year-old "strenuously denies consuming" cocaine after independent urine and blood tests returned negative results.
- Football Australia is currently seeking independent verification of the secondary test results, while police revealed the 22-year-old was pulled over for driving 109km/h in a 60km/h zone, resulting in a six-month international driver's license suspension.
- Socceroos coach Tony Popovic declined to comment on Volpato's selection status, as the midfielder is ruled out of this month's friendlies against Brazil after sustaining a hamstring injury in a recent Sassuolo match.
- Sources indicate Volpato could face Football Australia's disciplinary and ethics committee, which holds power to suspend him from national team action, a process previously applied to A-League Women goalkeeper Teresa Morrissey last year.
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Cristian Volpato, a 22-year-old Australian footballer from Sassuolo, was fined 722 Australian dollars for speeding and cocaine use in Sydney. Arrested at the end of July after...
Australian international Cristian Volpato, 22, has been fined A$722 and has his driving licence suspended for speeding and testing positive for cocaine after being stopped by local police in Sydney in late July. The young midfielder could be in bigger trouble as he faces a suspension. Volpato was stopped twice by police that night. The first time for driving at 109 kilometres per hour in a 60 km/h zone. He then underwent an alcohol test, which c…
He has been PUNISHED, and he faces a more serious scenario.
Australian World Cup star Cristian Volpato has been fined after testing positive for cocaine during a roadside check, local police and media reported, raising the question of how Football Federation Australia will handle the matter ahead of the Asian Cup.
Arrested by police for speeding in Sydney and then positive for cocaine, the midfielder was fined.
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