Jannik Sinner has fired his fitness trainer and physiotherapist because of his two positive steroid tests in March and said at his pre-US Open news conference on Friday — his first public comments on the matter — that he knew he was innocent but worried what the case’s outcome would be until finding out he wouldn’t be suspended.
Sinner’s fitness trainer, Umberto Ferrara, and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi have been at the 23-year-old Italian’s side during his rise over the past two years.
“I’m not feeling that confident to continue with them,” world No. 1 Sinner, who won his first grand slam title at the Australian Open this January, said. “Now I just need some clean air.”
The International Tennis Integrity Agency announced this week that Sinner failed two drug tests — one during the Indian Wells tournament and one eight days later — but that it was determined the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol entered his system unintentionally, via Naldi.
“Obviously it has been a very tough moment for me and my team,” Sinner said. “It still is, because it’s quite fresh.”
Play begins at Flushing Meadows on Monday, with Sinner scheduled to meet Mackie McDonald, an American ranked 140th, on Tuesday.
“Of course it’s not ideal before a grand slam,” Sinner said with a chuckle about the timing of the news. “But in my mind, I know that I haven’t done anything wrong. I had to play, already, (for) months with this in my head, but just (was reminding) myself that I haven’t done really anything wrong. I always respect these rules — and I always will respect these rules — of anti-doping.”
The Italian, considered one of the leaders of the next group of male tennis stars, is tuned up for the US Open by winning the hard-court Cincinnati Open on Monday.
“He’s an incredible player, and, you know, (governing) bodies made a decision.
He’s cleared to play. That’s pretty much what I have to say about it,” said USA’s Frances Tiafoe, who lost in the Cincinnati final.
Sinner’s defence was that Ferrara purchased an over-the-counter spray that contained Clostebol in Italy, then gave it to Naldi, who used it on a cut finger. Sinner said Naldi then gave him a massage. The investigation found that Sinner had a trace amount of the steroid in his system, a point he illustrated on Friday by using eight fingers to count out the number of zeroes before the “1” in the amount: .000000001”.
