Jannik Sinner Stunningly Re-Appoints Fitness Coach Involved In His Doping Case

Wednesday, 23 July 2025 at 13:57

byJordan Reynolds

Jannik Sinner has caused widespread astonishment by choosing to work again with Umberto Ferrara, one of the key figures involved in his high-profile doping case.

At the 2024 Indian Wells Open, Sinner tested positive for clostebol twice. That news did not become public until five months later, a few days before the 2024 US Open, causing headlines worldwide.

Sinner's positive tests were caused by his physiotherapist at the time, Giacomo Naldi, giving him massages after using a product containing traces of clostebol. Ferrara provided that substance to him.

After the doping case became public, Sinner fired Ferrara and Naldi. Although he was grateful for their role in his development, the ATP world No. 1 said he could not trust either of them after what happened.

Some questioned why Sinner did not split from them immediately after discovering the positive tests instead of waiting for the story to become widely known. Staying with them for another five months after the positive tests seemed strange.

Sinner ultimately served a three-month suspension from February until a few days before the 2025 Italian Open in May. Ferrara and Naldi faced no consequences for their role in what happened.

Shortly after splitting from Ferrara and Naldi, Sinner appointed Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio as their replacements. They had successful times with Novak Djokovic, and the Italian's fitness noticeably improved under their watch.

That improvement meant there was widespread shock when Sinner chose to part ways with them before the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. He did not provide many details about what caused him to make that decision.

Sinner's reasoning is now clearer after Ferrara's return to his team was officially announced. The statement was short and made no reference to the fitness coach's role in the Wimbledon winner's suspension.

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"Jannik Sinner has reappointed Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach with immediate effect. The decision has been made in realignment with Jannik's management team as part of ongoing preparations for upcoming tournaments, including the Cincinnati Open and the US Open. Umberto has played an important role in Jannik's development to date, and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level."

Sinner's withdrawal from the 2025 Canadian Open, along with Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, means he will probably not comment on this momentous development until the 2025 Cincinnati Open, which starts in two weeks.

When he does face the press, fans can better understand what drove Sinner to make a decision that he knew would cause controversy and bring his doping case back into the spotlight.

Sinner has always believed himself innocent of any wrongdoing. The World Anti-Doping Agency, which gave him the three-month ban, has never disputed that he did not know about the clostebol entering his system.

While Sinner was never found to have deliberately doped, his working again with one of the people who caused his nightmare ordeal to occur is very unexpected. Other players, even those supportive of Sinner, might find it distasteful.