Sinner welcomes Djokovic’s ex-aides to his fitness team after dodging doping ban

Fitness coach Marco Panichi and physio Ulises Badio join Italian’s staff

Jannik Sinner, US Open 2024 Image Credit: Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic

September 16, 2024

Jannik Sinner has welcomed Novak Djokovic’s ex-aides Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio to his fitness team. The move comes after Sinner dodged a doping ban despite testing positive twice for Clostebol, a banned steroid, during the 2024 Indian Wells Open.

Sinner claimed innocence arguing the substance entered his body due to his ex-physio Giacomo Naldi’s negligence at Indian Wells. Naldi at the time was nursing a wound on his finger and used a spray that contained Clostebol. As per the world No 1’s account, Naldi was advised to use the spray, which is readily available over-the-counter in Italy, by his fitness trainer Umberto Ferrera.

Sinner’s plea was notably accepted by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and he was freed of any wrongdoing following months of investigation. In the aftermath of the scandal, the Italian severed ties with Naldi and Ferrera.

Sinner has now replaced Naldi and Ferrera with fitness coach Marco Panichi and physio Ulises Badio. He posted about the duo’s arrival to his team on Instagram on Monday:

“Welcome to the team Marco and Ulises,” Sinner wrote in the caption (translated).

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Panichi, the Italian former long jumper, parted ways with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic after a seven-year-long association in May this year. In an exclusive conversation with Tennis Majors, he reflected on his journey with the Serb.

“It was an unbelievable experience, unbelievable ride,” Panichi said. “I learned a lot every day – how to become more professional and more ‘into’ what we need to do. I learned how to be ready to organise plan A, B and C if necessary, because there are so many thing going on with great athletes such as Novak, a lot going on behind the scenes, so you need to always be ready to change plans in the last minute. The best gift from all of this, I would say, is the great relationship with a great person.”