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Cristian Volpato's immediate availability for the Socceroos rests with Football Australia after New South Wales Police confirmed a second test had returned a positive result for cocaine, following the World Cup player's roadside stop in July.
Volpato was pulled over by police on Sydney's Anzac Bridge on July 24 while driving at 109 km/h (68 mph) in a 60 km/h (37 mph) zone and returned a positive roadside reading for cocaine.
The 22-year-old then underwent independent testing at a private clinic, where he was said to have returned a negative result. But police sent him for a secondary oral fluid test, which again confirmed a positive result for cocaine.
"On Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, a 22-year-old man was issued a traffic infringement notice for driving a motor vehicle with an illicit drug present in oral fluid," New South Wales Police told the Australian Associated Press (AAP).
Volpato, who will face no further police action, was fined Aus$722 (US$522) as a result of the second positive test. His driving licence has also been suspended since July.
The Sassuolo midfielder was a late addition to Australia's World Cup squad after switching his international allegiance from Italy to Australia on the eve of the tournament.
Born and raised in Sydney, he moved overseas as a youth and had represented Italy at various youth levels before making three appearances for Australia at the World Cup.
Volpato has maintained his innocence over the failed drug test, telling Football Australia staff that he never knowingly took the substance. He also underwent a test on his return to Italy that came back negative, according to his club, Sassuolo.
In a statement provided to AAP, Football Australia said: "Football Australia has been made aware of information concerning a reported secondary oral test result relating to one of our players. We are currently seeking independent verification."
"The matter is being managed in accordance with Football Australia's established protocols. To protect the integrity of this process and ensure procedural fairness, we will not comment further."
The positive result on Volpato's secondary police test could carry significant consequences for his availability ahead of January's Asian Cup.
Sources told AAP that Volpato could be referred to Football Australia's disciplinary and ethics committee, which has the power to suspend him from national team duty.
The closest comparable case is that of A-League Women goalkeeper Teresa Morrissey, who tested positive for cannabis while driving. Morrissey said the cannabis had been used for medicinal purposes but was still handed a three-game ban by Football Australia last year, a sanction her legal team argued was disproportionate given her public profile.
Volpato's off-field trouble drew headlines both in Australia and in Italy, where he plays in Serie A. He has played three games for Sassuolo this season but failed to finish the team's most recent match against Bologna because of a suspected hamstring injury.
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic declined to say whether he would select Volpato for this month's friendlies against Brazil, speaking at a media roundtable in Sydney on Tuesday.
"I don't know exactly the details of what happened, and it would be wrong to speculate on what happened," Popovic said. "These young men, things happen, and you can get caught for something we have to look into.
"There is a process that's playing out at the moment, and we need to follow that process. When that is played out as it should, then I can really comment on that."
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