Sassuolo forward Cristian Volpato is facing a police investigation in Australia after allegedly testing positive for cocaine during a roadside drug test following two separate traffic stops in Sydney.
According to New South Wales Police, the 22-year-old was stopped twice within the space of a few hours while driving a BMW on the Anzac Bridge, which connects Pyrmont and Glebe Island.
The first stop occurred at around 11pm on Thursday, when Volpato was fined for travelling 20 km/h over the 60 km/h speed limit. He also underwent a breathalyser test, which returned a negative result for alcohol.
However, at around 1am, police stopped the vehicle again after allegedly recording it travelling at 109 km/h on the same stretch of road.
During the second stop, Volpato underwent a roadside drug screening, which produced a preliminary positive result for cocaine. Police subsequently collected a second oral fluid sample, which has been sent for laboratory analysis to determine whether the initial result is confirmed.
As a result of the incident, the Sassuolo attacker has had his international driving licence suspended for six months pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Australian authorities stressed that the roadside drug test is only a preliminary screening and that no final conclusion can be reached until the laboratory tests are completed. Any further legal action will depend on the outcome of those confirmatory analyses.
Volpato recently returned to Australia following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he represented the Socceroos, making three appearances during the tournament.
Police confirmed that their investigation remains ongoing.
