“Seems that it was only my fault” – Sinner’s ex-physio on doping scandal

Italian Jannik Sinner‘s former physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi recently commented on the doping scandal that began in March this year and haunts the world No 1 to date.

Sinner’s samples tested positive for Clostebol, a performance-boosting steroid, twice during the 2024 Indian Wells Open, where he fought until losing to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals. He remained at the mercy of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for months before the body freed him ruling “No Fault or Negligence” in August.

The verdict came out after the Italian proved he was exposed to Clostebol from massages given to him by his then physio Giacomo Naldi, who was nursing a wounded finger with Trofondarim, an ointment containing the steroid. As per Sinner’s account, the cream was purchased by his ex-trainer Umberto Ferrara from a Bologna pharmacy.

The world No 1 severed ties with Naldi and Ferrara after the ITIA cleared him of any misconduct without imposing a ban, but that decision has been challenged by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the proceedings are underway.

I hope, sooner or later, to be able to tell what happened too to give a general picture.”

Giacomo Naldi

“I’m sorry like everyone else, but I can’t say anything else because unfortunately it’s not over yet,” Naldi told La Stampa (translated). “From how this affair has been interpreted by the general public it seems that it was only my fault. But that’s not the case, as anyone who has read the ruling knows. I realise that not everyone has made this effort.”

Naldi suggested professional fallout hasn’t affected his equation with Sinner, who sent congratulatory messages to him on his daughter’s birth in the meantime.

“Jannik was very kind: when Letizia was born, he wrote to me. Like the whole team,” he added. “I have a cordial relationship with Jannik. In general, I have received demonstrations of affection especially from those who know me personally. On social media, however, I have read bad messages and I have been insulted . Because what happened, in the telling of this story, happened a little badly.”

Sinner has replaced Naldi and Ferrara with Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio — two former Novak Djokovic’s staff members.

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