Jannik Sinner’s Former Trainer Speaks Out on Doping Controversy
Jannik Sinner’s former fitness trainer, Umberto Ferrara, has broken his silence regarding the banned substance scandal that led to the Italian tennis star’s three-month suspension.
Sinner, currently the world No. 1, tested positive for clostebol—a prohibited steroid—on two occasions in March 2024. Initially cleared of wrongdoing, his case was later overturned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The court ruled that, as the athlete, Sinner bore partial responsibility for the negligence of his team.
Ferrara, along with Sinner’s physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi, was removed from the player’s team following the incident. According to Ferrara, the clostebol contamination was linked to Trofodermin spray, which Naldi used on a personal injury before giving Sinner a massage.
“I’ve used the spray for years under medical prescription for a chronic illness,” Ferrara told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I was aware it contained a banned substance and kept it stored safely in my personal bathroom. I never gave it to Naldi—I only suggested it for a cut on his finger.”
Ferrara emphasized that he clearly warned Naldi of the risks:
“I explicitly told him not to bring it anywhere near Jannik. Naldi didn’t deny being warned—he just said he couldn’t remember.”
Once Sinner’s positive test came to light, Ferrara says they quickly traced the source to the spray:
“It became clear almost immediately. We even showed proof of the pharmacy purchase in Bologna.”
Now serving a three-month ban, Sinner is expected to return at the Italian Open in May. Despite being sidelined, the 23-year-old remains a three-time Grand Slam champion and a rising icon of the sport.
Ferrara, meanwhile, expressed regret about trusting others with sensitive matters:
“In hindsight, I wouldn’t have left anything to chance. I’ve paid the price for others’ carelessness—sometimes even worsened by bad faith.”
