SYDNEY (AP) — Cristian Volpato, who switched his international soccer allegiance from Italy to Australia just before the World Cup, was fined about $520 on Wednesday after police said he failed testing for cocaine use.
The 22-year-old Volpato, who plays for Sassuolo in Italy’s Serie A, was pulled over by New South Wales state police on Sydney’s Anzac Bridge on July 24 and returned a positive roadside reading for cocaine. Police said analysis of a second sample taken at the time also tested positive.
Volpato was handed a fine of 722 Australian dollars and will face no further action.
The Sydney-born midfielder maintained his innocence over the failed drug test when he spoke to Football Australia staff, saying he never knowingly ingested the substance. He also undertook a test when he returned to Italy which was negative, Sassuolo officials reported.
Volpato has played three matches for Sassuolo this season, but failed to finish a game against Bologna on Monday because of a reported hamstring injury.
He was a late inclusion for the Socceroos’ World Cup campaign and had a notable early impact as the Australian team progressed to the knockout stages. Italy didn't qualify for the third World Cup in a row.
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Sassuolo's Cristian Volpato, left, fights for the ball with Torino's Nikola Vlasic during the Serie A soccer match between Sassuolo and Torino, in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Saturday Aug. 29, 2026. (Gianni Santandrea/LaPresse via AP)
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Kazuma Okamoto and Josh Smith hit home runs, José Soriano worked seven innings of two-run ball, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Athletics 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Toronto (73-73) sits a game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the third and final AL wild-card spot.
Smith, who was traded from the Texas Rangers on Aug. 3, opened the scoring in the second inning with a 360-foot shot to give Toronto a 1-0 lead. In his 20 games with the Blue Jays, he has five homers.
Okamoto followed in the next at-bat with the 30th home run of his rookie season. He joins White Sox rookie first baseman Munetaka Murakami as the only other Japanese-born player to accomplish the feat in his rookie campaign.
The milestone also marked the first time in major league history that three rookies have hit 30 or more home runs in the same season. Cincinnati's Sal Stewart is the other.
Alejandro Kirk hit an RBI single, and Smith capped the scoring by grounding into a one-run double play.
Soriano (12-7), who was traded from the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 3 as well, struck out three and gave up six hits. Spencer Miles worked two hitless innings for his second save of the season.
Carlos Cortes and Donovan Walton each had home runs for the Athletics.
Athletics starting pitcher Jack Perkins (3-11) allowed all four runs on seven hits while fanning three.
Athletics’ LHP Brady Basso (1-2, 4.32 ERA) takes the mound while the Blue Jays have yet to announce a starter for the series finale on Wednesday.
This story has been updated to correct Toronto’s record and wild-card situation.
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Athletics' Carlos Cortes jogs around the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andrés Giménez fields a ground ball off the bat of Athletics' Alika Williams, not shown, before throwing to first base for the out during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
Toronto Blue Jays' Josh Smith grounds into a double play that resulting in an RBI during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto hits a single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
