Returning from the 2026 World Cup, Cristian Volpato would have tested positive for cocaine following a major speeding incident. The investigation remains ongoing.
A few weeks after representing Australia at the 2026 World Cup, Cristian Volpato finds himself in a delicate situation. According to The Guardian, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder would have been intercepted by police in Sydney after driving at 109 km/h in a 60 km/h zone.
It would be his second speeding violation during the same night. A few hours earlier, the player would already have been detected traveling between 86 and 94 km/h in another 60 km/h zone. The breathalyzer test conducted on that occasion reportedly came back negative.
During the second check, a preliminary saliva test would have detected the presence of cocaine. A new sample would have been collected and sent to a laboratory to confirm or refute this initial result.
His license already suspended
Awaiting definitive conclusions, the New South Wales authorities would have suspended his international license for six months. No criminal drug-related charges would have been pronounced at this stage.
Football Australia would have indicated that it had been informed of the case and would remain in contact with the Sassuolo player. On the sporting side, no automatic sanction can yet be mentioned without a definitive result nor the opening of an anti-doping procedure.
Volpato had played three matches during the World Cup. Starting in the Round of 16 defeat to Egypt, he was part of the Australian revelations of the competition.
