Australian footballer Cristian Volpato has tested positive for cocaine following two separate traffic stops in Sydney on the night of July 24. The 22-year-old player, who recently represented Australia at the World Cup, was initially stopped at around 11 p.m. while driving his BMW Coupe on the Anzac Bridge for exceeding the speed limit by nearly double. At that time, he passed a breath test indicating no alcohol in his system.

Approximately two hours later, Volpato was pulled over again, during which police administered a test that returned a positive result for cocaine. New South Wales authorities issued him an infringement notice for speeding and suspended his international driving licence for six months. A secondary sample has been collected for further analysis to confirm the presence of the substance.

Volpato is currently signed with Serie A club Sassuolo. Prior to representing Australia, he had been involved with Italy at youth levels before switching his international allegiance ahead of the recent World Cup tournament. His representatives have been contacted for comment but have not yet responded.

The incident adds scrutiny to the young midfielder, who is regarded as a rising talent in both Australian and Italian football circles. The outcome of the secondary testing and any potential disciplinary proceedings from football governing bodies will likely determine the next steps in Volpato’s career.