Jannik Sinner has reappointed Umberto Ferrara, the fitness coach who was inadvertently involved in his three-month doping ban.
In March 2024, Sinner, 23, who is world No 1, twice tested positive for a trace amount of anabolic steroid. The case didn’t reach the public light until August 2024 in the build-up to the US Open, a tournament Sinner won.
The Italian was originally completely cleared given his defence that he had ‘no fault or negligence’ and was accidentally exposed to the banned substance Clostebol, due to a massage from Giacomo Naldi, who was his physio at the time.
It was claimed by Sinner that Ferrara had purchased a product in Italy and gave it to the physio to treat a cut on his hand. The massage on Sinner subsequently took place when Naldi wasn’t wearing gloves.
As a result of the situation, Sinner fired Ferrara and Naldi, but almost a year later the 23-year-old will be reunited with the fitness supremo.
In a statement, Sinner’s team said: ‘Jannik Sinner has reappointed Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach with immediate effect.
Jannik Sinner has rehired Umberto Ferrara, the fitness coach who he fired for purchasing nasal spray that led to his three-month doping ban last year
Sinner had sacked Ferrara and his physio Giacomo Naldi last year after the controversy
Sinner was initially cleared before an appeal from the World Anti-Doping Agency led to the ban
‘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.
‘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.’
Speaking at the time of Ferrara and Naldi’s departures last year, Sinner had paid tribute to them, while he also shared some criticism.
‘I want to start with [saying] that they have been a huge part for my career,’ Sinner said.
‘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.
‘I was struggling a lot in the last months. Now I was waiting for the result, and now I just need some clean air.’
The decision to rehire Ferrara comes after Sinner recently moved on fitness coach Marco Panichi and physio Ulises from his team.
Sinner has shone since returning to action and last month he won Wimbledon for the first time
Sinner with Giacomo Naldi (L) and Ferrara (second L) after winning the Australian Open in 2024
Meanwhile, last year, after Sinner had been initially cleared, the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the decision made by the independent tribunal.
In February 2025, it was then announced that while the positive drugs tests came due to inadvertent contamination, Sinner was to serve a three-month suspension.
The process and punishment has proven to be controversial in some quarters, with several current and former players critical of what occured.
The three-month ban ended just before the Italian Open in May of this year and Sinner went on to reach the final of the French Open, before he won Wimbledon.
Sinner will be back in action at the Cincinnati Open next month as he looks to defends his US Open title.
