Jannik Sinner makes big changes to his team as doping scandal continues to unfold

The fall-out from Jannik Sinner’s two failed drug tests continues, with inevitable changes to his support staff now taking place.

It was revealed on Tuesday that Sinner failed two anti-doping tests in March but has been absolved of fault or negligence by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

The ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation that the banned substance clostebol, an anabolic agent that can aid muscle growth, had accidentally entered his system via a product one of his team had used to treat a small wound.

Sinner was first told of his doping violation in April and, while he has won tournaments in Halle and Cincinnati, the Italian pulled out of the Paris Games after a bout of tonsillitis and his coach Darren Cahill feels the investigation had started to wear down the 23-year-old.

Cahill told ESPN: “I guess if you are not a Jannik fan, you may not see too much difference in what he has been doing the last few months because he has still been playing quite well.

“But if you are a Jannik fan, you would have seen a big change in his body language, physicality on the court, his excitement to be on the court – he’s struggled and I think it’s worn him down physically and mentally.

“He got tonsillitis, which is the reason why he missed the Olympics.

“I just want to stress that he’s maybe the most professional young man that I have ever had the chance to work with. He would never ever intentionally do anything and he’s in a situation that is incredibly unfortunate.”

Sinner first tested positive on March 10 while competing in Indian Wells and was red-flagged again in an out-of-competition test eight days later.

Both samples yielded trace amounts of clostebol but he was able to continue playing on the ATP Tour after successfully challenging a provisional suspension.

Scientific experts consulted by the ITIA concluded Sinner’s account – in which his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi had used an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol on his skin between March 5 to 13 – was credible.

During his interview with ESPN, Cahill confirmed athletic trainer Umberto Ferrara and physiotherapist Naldi are not with Sinner in America as he prepares for the US Open.

Now Sinner has confirmed the duo will not be returning to his camp, in what may be the only option for Sinner.

Ferrara bought the spray that led to the problem and gave it to Naldi, with Cahill suggesting the duo are to blame for the crisis that has enveloped the world No 1.

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“In March at Indian Wells, Giacomo Naldi injured his hand with a tool to remove calluses from feet, there was a rather large cut on his little finger,” said Cahill.

“Jannik saw Naldi’s injured finger for the first time in the evening and asked him if he had used creams or other treatments for the finger, Naldi replied no, which was the truth at that time.

“Then Naldi met Ferrara who gave him a spray that was quite common in Italy, I didn’t know it. There are few cases of Italian players testing positive for the substance in this particular spray.

“Even during the following week, Naldi continued to use that spray for his injured finger, without us knowing, and through the treatments he transmitted it to Sinner.

“This is the summary of the story, everyone must know that Sinner has no active role in this story, he didn’t ingest anything, he didn’t take any bars, and he is positive only due this connection between Naldi’s spray and the treatments received on his feet.”

Sinner has convinced the ITIA that he knew nothing about the substance that got into his system, but those who put it there are, at the very least, guilty of gross negligence of their client.

So it will be no surprise that they appear to have removed from Sinner’s team for good, as the Australian Open champion looks to distance himself from the duo who put his entire career in jeopardy due to their actions.

It remains to be seen whether Sinner can retain his focus amid this drug test storm to challenge for the US Open title, where he will be No 1 seed.

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