Volpato faces absence from AFC Asian Cup due to cocaine case

Cristian Volpato, the US Sassuolo striker and Australia international, faces the risk of missing the upcoming AFC Asian Cup due to a case involving the use of a banned substance and driving over the speed limit in Australia.

The incident dates back to July 24, when Australian police stopped Cristian Volpato twice in Sydney for speeding. In the second instance, the player was driving at 109 kilometers per hour in a zone with a maximum speed limit of 60 kilometers per hour, before testing positive for cocaine in a saliva test. A second sample was also taken for analysis.

New South Wales Police announced on September 1 that the 22-year-old player received a fine of 722 Australian dollars for having an illegal substance in his saliva, along with a suspension of his international driving license, without any additional criminal charges being laid against him. Reports confirmed that Volpato denies intentionally using cocaine, while a subsequent private test he conducted returned negative.

The sports penalty remains the most important aspect for the player, as the case is currently under review by Football Australia, which is seeking to independently verify the circumstances of the incident before making any decision regarding his participation with the national team.

Cristian Volpato has chosen to represent Australia instead of Italy ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, and he participated with the 'Socceroos' in the tournament, which makes his future with the national team a point of interest, especially with the AFC Asian Cup approaching.

Reports indicate that the Australian federation has strict regulations regarding banned substances, but there is currently no official decision to exclude Cristian Volpato from the AFC Asian Cup. Coach Tony Popovic has confirmed that procedures are still ongoing, and he must wait for the process to be completed before commenting on the player's future with the national team.