Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner announced on Friday during his pre-U.S. Open news conference that he had parted ways with his fitness trainer and physiotherapist after testing positive for steroids in March. Despite being cleared to play and maintaining his innocence, Sinner expressed that the situation has been challenging for him and his team. The 23-year-old, who is the No. 1 seed at the U.S. Open, is set to face American Mackie McDonald in the first round on Tuesday, following Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal from the tournament.
Sinner described the timing of the news regarding his doping case this week as less than ideal but expressed relief at the outcome. The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed that Sinner unintentionally ingested the banned steroid Clostebol through a massage given by his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, in March during a tournament in Indian Wells, California. Sinner explained that his fitness trainer had purchased an over-the-counter spray containing Clostebol in Italy, which was used by Naldi on a cut finger before giving Sinner a massage.
Known for his rapid rise in the ATP rankings, with his first Grand Slam win at the Australian Open in January, Sinner’s career has been on an upward trajectory. With a record of 48-5 in 2024 and five titles under his belt, including the recent Cincinnati Open, Sinner is seen as part of the new generation of male tennis stars destined to follow in the footsteps of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. His opponent in the Cincinnati final, Frances Tiafoe, expressed support for Sinner’s clearance to play, acknowledging the decision made by the governing bodies and wishing Sinner the best at the U.S. Open tournament.