Staff Reporter.
World number one Jannik Sinner has re-appointed his former fitness coach Umberto Ferrara with immediate effect, the Italian confirmed on Wednesday.
Sinner parted ways with Ferrara and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi last year following the investigation into his positive tests for banned substance clostebol in March.
“The decision has been made in alignment with Jannik’s management team as part of ongoing preparations for upcoming tournaments, including the Cincinnati Open and US Open,” a statement from Sinner’s team said.
“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 received a three-month ban agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) in February.
Wada had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against an independent tribunal’s decision last August to clear Sinner of wrongdoing.
Sinner, who returned to action in May and lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final before beating him to win Wimbledon, said clostebol, which can build muscle mass, entered his system after Naldi applied an over-the-counter spray to a cut on his own hand before carrying out treatments on Sinner.
The spray had been given to Naldi by trainer Ferrara.
Sinner was cleared of fault or negligence by an independent tribunal, which accepted that he had inadvertently been contaminated with the substance.