Jannik Sinner rehires fitness trainer involved in doping case

Their collaboration will not be interrupted for long. Fitness coach Umberto Ferrara and Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner are working together again, Avima, the management company representing the world number one and recent Wimbledon champion, announced in a press release on Wednesday, July 23.

Mr. Ferrara was fired by the athlete in the summer of 2024, after revelations of two positive tests for a banned substance, which occurred a few months earlier, on the sidelines of the Indian Wells tournament (California). Jannik Sinner, who was suspended for three months, from February until the beginning of May, under an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) , has continued to proclaim his innocence.

He claims to have been infected by a third party during a massage given by a member of his team. WADA acknowledged the accidental nature of the infection, but still sanctioned the player for his responsibility towards those around him.

Umberto Ferrara and the masseur and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi had been dismissed by Jannik Sinner in the wake of this affair. But the Italian had nevertheless retained his confidence in the former, whom he described as an "excellent trainer" in November 2024. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport , Mr. Ferrara admitted in April to using "for years" a spray containing clostebol - the banned substance in question - which had "been prescribed to him by a specialist doctor to treat a chronic condition."

According to him, the fault lies with Giacomo Naldi. "I suggested he use it to treat a cut that wasn't healing and was making his job more difficult. I was very clear in telling him the nature of the product and the need for it to never come into contact with Jannik. I only authorized its use in my personal bathroom," the fitness trainer explained.

The decision to rehire Mr. Ferrara was taken "in full agreement with Jannik's management team and as part of the preparation for (...) the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati and the US Open," of which the Italian is the defending champion, Avima explained in its press release.

"Umberto has played an important role in Jannik's development, and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level ," the management company continued. However, this decision could once again tarnish the image of the world number one, as his spectacular final at Roland Garros and subsequent victory at Wimbledon against Carlos Alcaraz had pushed the doping scandal into the background.