Jannik Sinner has terminated his fitness trainer and physiotherapist following two positive steroid tests earlier this year. At a press conference before the U.S. Open, the world No. 1 revealed that although he was confident of his innocence, he was still anxious about the potential consequences of the case.
Sinner, who is the top seed for the final Grand Slam of the year, addressed the media at Flushing Meadows, where he will begin his campaign against American Mackie McDonald, ranked 140th, on Tuesday. McDonald secured his spot in the U.S. Open after Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal earlier this month.
“It’s not ideal,” Sinner remarked with a wry smile, referring to the timing of the doping case news. He described the outcome as “a relief,” acknowledging the stress it had placed on him and his team.
The 23-year-old Italian, who achieved the No. 1 ATP ranking for the first time in June, is seen as a key figure in the new generation of male tennis stars succeeding the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Sinner clinched his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January and has had a stellar 2024 season with a 48-5 record and five titles, including a recent win at the Cincinnati Open.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) disclosed the previous day that Sinner had failed two drug tests in March—one at the Indian Wells tournament and another eight days later. The tests revealed the presence of Clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid. An accidental contamination traced back to a massage administered by his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, caused it.
Sinner’s defense explained that his fitness trainer, Umberto Ferrara, had purchased an over-the-counter spray containing Clostebol in Italy. Naldi used it on a cut finger before giving Sinner a massage.
Frances Tiafoe, whom Sinner defeated in the Cincinnati final, commented on the situation. Saying, “He’s an incredible player, and, you know, the governing bodies made a decision. They went and did that; he’s cleared to play. That’s pretty much what I have to say about it. All the best to him in the U.S. Open.”
Sinner now looks ahead to the U.S. Open, where he aims to continue his impressive form and secure further success.
