'I haven't done anything wrong' - Jannik Sinner relieved to move on from anti-doping case, splits with two team members
Published 23/08/2024 at 23:18 GMT+1
Jannik Sinner will be in action at the 2024 US Open having been forced to miss the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with tonsillitis. However, the world No. 1 has parted company with physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi and fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara after being cleared of any wrongdoing for a failed anti-doping test, having twice tested positive for clostebol in March.
'I haven't done anything wrong' - Sinner relieved after being cleared of anti-doping test failure
Video credit: SNTV
Jannik Sinner said that he has done nothing wrong after parting company with physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi and fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara.
The world No. 1 was cleared of any misconduct by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after testing positive for banned substance clostebol in March.
The ITIA concluded that Naldi and Ferrara had accidentally contaminated Sinner.
Sinner can now turn his attention to the 2024 US Open, where he will face the USA's own Mackenzie McDonald in the opening round.
The Italian insists he is delighted to be able to compete without the threat of sanctions playing on his mind.
"Of course it's not ideal before a Grand Slam but in my mind I know that I haven't done anything wrong," Sinner said in his first public comments on the matter.
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'We'll see what I can do there' - Cincinnati Open champion Sinner on upcoming US Open
Video credit: SNTV
"I had to play already months with this in my head. I'm just happy that it's finally out because it's one kind of relief also for me and my team, which is still here."
Sinner was, however, quick to thank Naldi and Ferrara for their help during his career so far, adding: "I want to start with [saying] that they have been a huge part of my career.
"We made an incredible job, bringing a lot of success and then having a great team behind me. Now, because of these mistakes, I'm not feeling that confident to continue with them.
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"I was struggling a lot in the last months. Now I was waiting for the result, and now I just need some clean air."
Sinner was provisionally suspended, but the Italian was allowed to continue playing after appealing the decision.
The 2024 Australian Open winner has since beaten Frances Tiafoe in the final of the Cincinnati Masters.
However, he did not compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after catching tonsillitis.
"Whoever knows me very well knows that I haven't done and I would never do something what goes against the rules," he added.
"Here I also know who is my friend and who is not my friend, because my friends, they know that I would never do that.
"About the reputation, we will see moving forward, no? Because this, I can't really control."
Watch and stream the 2024 Laver Cup live on Eurosport and discovery+
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