LONDON — The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has announced that the suspension of Stefano Vukov, former coach of Elena Rybakina, is still enforced following the completion of an investigation into a possible violation of the organization’s code of conduct. This suspension, which was initially provisional, raises uncertainty about how much longer Vukov will be banned from involvement in the sport, despite his firm denial of any misconduct.

Elena Rybakina, who claimed the Wimbledon title in 2022, expressed her disagreement with the suspension during the Australian Open last month. She stated that Vukov “never mistreated me” throughout their time together, emphasizing her position against the provisional suspension imposed on him.

In its official statement, the WTA confirmed the conclusion of the independent inquiry regarding Vukov’s conduct. However, the governing body refrained from detailing specifics regarding the findings, as it aims to maintain confidentiality and the integrity of the investigation. The WTA reiterated its commitment to handling all matters related to its code of conduct in a fair and impartial manner.

Rybakina, currently ranked seventh in the world, has faced complexities concerning her coaching situation recently. Shortly before the U.S. Open in 2022, she announced the end of her coaching partnership with Vukov and introduced Goran Ivanisevic, the 2001 Wimbledon champion, as her new coach at the start of the season.

However, before the Australian Open, Rybakina indicated that Vukov would return to her team. It was made clear that while Vukov remains under provisional suspension, he would be ineligible for a WTA credential, which bars him from accessing player-only areas such as practice courts during tournaments. After Rybakina exited the Australian Open in the fourth round, Ivanisevic declared that he would no longer be coaching her, leaving her coaching situation uncertain once again.