Cristian Volpato has escaped with a €450 fine after an incident in which cocaine was reportedly found in his blood while he was driving, bringing an end to a case that had threatened to cause serious problems for the Sassuolo and Australia footballer.
Volpato was fined 722 Australian dollars, equivalent to about €450, following the incident. The penalty represents a much less severe outcome than the consequences the player initially appeared to be facing after the substance was detected in his blood.
The case had centred on two elements: the alleged presence of cocaine and the fact that Volpato was behind the wheel of a car. Those circumstances had raised the prospect of significant difficulties for the 21-year-old, who plays for Sassuolo and represents Australia.
However, Volpato has consistently denied taking cocaine. He requested further testing in an effort to challenge the original finding, and the additional examination did not detect traces of the drug in his blood, according to derbyderbyderby.it.
That result formed a key part of the eventual resolution. Rather than facing a more serious sporting or legal outcome, Volpato’s case concluded with the financial penalty of 722 Australian dollars.
Sassuolo also carried out a series of checks of its own. Following those investigations, the club internally cleared Volpato and restored his access to club activities.
The Italian side’s decision means the player is once again able to take part in the club’s work after the scrutiny surrounding the incident. Sassuolo’s internal review reached the same practical conclusion as the additional examination: Volpato was not found to have traces of cocaine in his blood in that test.
The affair had been reported at the end of July, when the potential consequences for the player appeared considerably more serious. At that stage, the discovery of cocaine in his blood, combined with the fact that he had been driving, had placed the footballer in a difficult position.
Volpato’s firm denial and his decision to request a new analysis ultimately helped change the picture. The second test failed to identify any traces of the drug, while Sassuolo’s own checks led the club to reinstate him.
The final outcome is therefore a €450 fine rather than a heavier punishment. Volpato remains a Sassuolo player and has regained access to the club after the internal process was completed.