Jannik Sinner rehires fitness coach he fired for playing role in his doping case
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The move comes after Sinner recently removed fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio from his team.
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'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,' a statement from Sinner's team said Wednesday.
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Last year, Sinner tested positive twice for a trace amount of an anabolic steroid in March; the case wasn't made public until August, shortly before the U.S. Open, which he ended up winning for the second of his four Grand Slam titles.
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He initially was completely cleared, based on the defense that he accidentally was exposed to the banned substance, Clostebol, via a massage from his then-physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi. Sinner said his fitness trainer at the time, Ferrara, purchased a product in Italy and gave it to Naldi for a cut on Naldi's finger. Naldi then treated Sinner while not wearing gloves.
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Sinner then fired Naldi and Ferrara, and Ferrara was hired briefly by Matteo Berrettini, another Italian player.
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The World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the exoneration, and Sinner agreed to serve a three-month ban that ended right before the Italian Open in May of this year.
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National Post
2 hours ago
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