Jannik Sinner is currently serving a three-month suspension issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which took effect on February 15, 2025, after testing positive for clostebol during the Indian Wells Masters 1000 in March. Recently, his former trainer, Umberto Ferrara, broke his silence on the matter, shedding light on the situation.
Sinner is set to return to the court on May 4, just in time for the Rome Open, but his suspension has already forced him to miss two key Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. However, despite his absence, his ATP ranking remains unaffected, and he still holds the world No. 1 spot.
As Sinner awaits his comeback, Ferrara spoke with La Gazzetta dello Sport, where he revealed new details about the incident. He admitted to using a medication containing clostebol but pointed the finger at former staff member Giacomo Naldi for the mistake that led to Sinner’s positive test.
“I have been using it for years as prescribed by a specialist as a support drug for a chronic disease,” Ferrara explained. “I was perfectly aware of the ban and have always handled it with the utmost caution, keeping it in my personal beauty case. I could have needed it for my condition while traveling”.
Jannik Sinner of Italy towels his racquet between points while playing Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the Indian Wells semifinals on March 16, 2024. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
“I didn’t give anything to Naldi. I only suggested using it because he had a cut on his finger that wouldn’t heal and was affecting his work,” he continued. “I was very clear in telling Naldi what the product was and that it should never come into contact with Jannik for any reason. I even allowed its use only inside my personal bathroom. Naldi never denied being informed, but later said he didn’t remember”.
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Ferrara on the moment he heard the news
Sinner’s former physical trainer recalled the shock and disbelief he felt when he first learned of the failed doping test. “Disbelief and amazement. When I heard about clostebol, I immediately made the connection with Trofodermin (the medication),” he said. “Within hours, we retraced the steps that led to Jannik’s contamination, and I provided evidence of purchasing the spray at a pharmacy in Bologna”.
Ferrara also expressed frustration over how people treated his involvement in the case. “Looking back, it’s easy to say I would have done things differently. I certainly wouldn’t have relied on others’ actions,” he stated. “I was hurt by the superficiality—and sometimes bad faith—with which many people judged my role in this affair”.
How Sinner handled the situation
Despite the controversy, Ferrara praised Sinner’s composure and resilience throughout the ordeal. “Despite being only 23 years old, he showed incredible maturity in handling the situation, driven by the firm belief that he was innocent,” Ferrara said. “His work ethic and dedication are extraordinary, and that mentality allows him to keep raising the bar. Working with Jannik has always been both rewarding and inspiring”.
He also recalled his final interaction with Sinner before their professional relationship ended. “The last time we saw each other was in Doha, where we said our goodbyes. I was deeply saddened by how things ended, but I knew this was one of the possible outcomes,” he admitted.
