Cristian Volpato's Socceroos fate uncertain after second sample confirms positive cocaine test
Quick summary
Sassuolo midfielder Cristian Volpato's second sample has confirmed an initial positive cocaine test, casting doubt on his potential Socceroos call-up and his club career.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceFootball Australia has power to suspend him from national team
Striker has maintained his innocence over failed drugs test
Cristian Volpato’s immediate availability for the Socceroos rests in the hands of Football Australia after NSW Police confirmed the World Cup star had tested positive for cocaine on a secondary test.
Volpato was pulled over by police on Sydney’s Anzac Bridge on 24 July and returned a positive roadside reading for cocaine.
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What happened
Cristian Volpato, the 22-year-old Australian-born midfielder currently playing for Sassuolo in Italy's Serie A, has had a second sample confirm an initial positive test for cocaine. The result, reported by The Guardian, puts his Socceroos ambitions in serious jeopardy and could trigger a lengthy ban under Football Australia's anti-doping code. Volpato, who has previously represented Italy at youth level before switching allegiance to Australia, was reportedly on the cusp of a senior national team call-up. The case will now proceed through anti-doping tribunals, with Sassuolo yet to comment publicly on whether they will take internal disciplinary action.
Chance analysis
Volpato's confirmed positive test is a significant blow to a player who had been tipped for a breakthrough Socceroos selection. Having chosen Australia over Italy at senior level, the midfielder now faces a suspension that could rule him out for an extended period, stalling his international career before it properly began. For Sassuolo, the development raises questions about squad reliability mid-season, while Football Australia must navigate a high-profile doping case that will test its integrity framework and messaging ahead of a major tournament cycle.
Volpato faces a likely multi-match ban that suspends both his Sassuolo availability and any imminent Socceroos selection, with potential long-term consequences for his international career.