Socceroos player Cristian Volpato will challenge a charge alleging he drove with cocaine in his system, his lawyer Paul McGirr has confirmed to AAP, according to ABC News Australia. Volpato was charged by NSW Police after being stopped on Sydney’s Anzac Bridge on July 24.
Police said the 22-year-old was travelling at 109 kilometres per hour in a 60km/h zone when he was pulled over. A roadside test returned a positive reading for cocaine. Volpato later received a $722 fine after a second oral-fluid test conducted by police also produced a positive result.
Volpato has maintained his innocence and said he never knowingly ingested the substance. The report said he underwent independent testing at a private clinic that was negative, and his Italian club, Sassuolo, said a test conducted after he returned to Italy was also negative. The police test results and the independent tests have therefore produced differing outcomes, with the matter now set to be considered by a court.
Football Australia said it was aware of reports about Volpato and described the case as a “traffic matter currently subject to a police process”. A spokesperson said it would not comment further while the matter remained ongoing.
The case could have implications for Volpato’s availability for Australia’s national team. Sources previously told AAP that he could be referred to Football Australia’s disciplinary and ethics committee, which has the power to suspend players from national-team action. The report said the positive secondary police test could be relevant to that process, although no disciplinary decision has been announced.
Volpato was born in Sydney and switched his international allegiance from Italy to Australia shortly before the World Cup campaign. He is playing in Serie A for Sassuolo but is currently sidelined by a right-leg injury sustained against Bologna, according to the report.