Australian Soccer Star Cristian Volpato Faces Cocaine Allegations After Speeding Incidents

Cristian Volpato, a rising Australian soccer talent who made three appearances for his country at the World Cup, is reportedly under investigation after testing positive for cocaine during a traffic stop. The 22-year-old was caught driving over the speed limit twice in Sydney, with police confirming the drug test results.

Details of the Traffic Stops

Police from New South Wales stated that Volpato was driving at 109 km/h—exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h—when stopped on Anzac Bridge near 1 a.m. on Friday. At that time, he underwent a roadside drug screening which allegedly detected cocaine. Authorities have confirmed that a second sample will be analyzed to verify the initial findings. Meanwhile, his driver's license has been suspended for six months.

Earlier that night, around 11 p.m., Volpato had already been pulled over for speeding by more than 20 km/h and received an infringement notice. Although given an alcohol test then, the result was negative.

Background on Volpato's Career

Born in Sydney, Volpato initially represented Italy at the Under-20 level after joining Roma in 2020. Prior to the World Cup, he switched allegiance to Australia and quickly became one of the tournament’s standout players. Currently, he plays club football for Italian side Sassuolo.