Socceroos midfielder Cristian Volpato contests cocaine driving fine and challenges police testing
Cristian Volpato has pleaded not guilty to a NSW fine for having cocaine in his system and will contest the roadside test in court.
After being stopped for speeding on Sydney’s Anzac Bridge, Socceroos midfielder Cristian Volpato received a $722 fine for a positive cocaine result from an oral-fluid test. He has entered a not-guilty plea and intends to challenge the infringement in the NSW Local Court, seeking access to the officers’ body-camera recordings and the testing facility’s footage to verify the sample’s integrity. Volpato’s counsel, Paul McGirr, emphasizes that the player has never used cocaine and points to voluntary drug tests that showed no cocaine.
His Italian club, Sassuolo, also reported negative urine and blood tests after his return to Italy. The offence is classified as an absolute liability breach, meaning prosecutors need not prove knowledge of drug use. While Volpato continues to play for Sassuolo, a hamstring injury has sidelined him from upcoming Australian friendlies, removing any immediate selection decisions for coach Tony Popovic.
Why it matters
The case raises questions about the reliability of roadside drug testing and its impact on a high-profile athlete’s career.
In this story
