Jannik Sinner’s three-month doping suspension was a blessing in disguise, according to his former fitness trainer Marco Panichi. The World No. 2 faced a suspension from Feb 9 – May 4, 2025, as the settlement struck between his camp and WADA stipulated that he should not miss any Grand Slam matches.
Sinner returned for the Italian Open in May, and since then, he has become unstoppable. The World No. 2 finished runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz in Rome. Three of his four Grand Slams have come after he returned from the suspension.
After Sinner tested positive for the prohibited steroid clostebol during routine anti-doping tests, which started this whole thing, he fired his fitness coach, Umberto Ferrara, and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi at the time, since it was because of their irresponsible actions that Sinner had to take the ban in the first place. He replaced them with Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio.
During an interview with La Repubblica, Panichi disclosed how the Italian and his fitness training were during the three-month suspension.
“An important premise: I can’t talk about my relationship with Jannik, for contractual reasons,” Panichi said. “I won’t name names. I’ll say that in general, certain ‘improvisations’ can help some athletes learn to manage their emotions. One thing I think I can say: the three months of his suspension were one of the best moments of my professional life. We worked hard, always having fun and exchanging many things with great respect.”
Why Jannik Sinner Was Given Three Month Doping Suspension Despite Hard Claim
In March, Jannik Sinner tested positive twice for a banned substance. It was a small amount and Sinner’s camp claimed that it happened because of an accidental contamination from a massage product used by his team. His former physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, applied the spray, which was given to him by Umberto Ferrara.
Initially, the investigation from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said that Sinner wasn’t at fault. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed that decision, alleging that an athlete is responsible for having a banned substance in the system, regardless of intent.
There was an option to go for a full Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) process, but instead the two parties settled for a three-month ban from February 9 to May 4, 2025, during which Sinner missed ATP tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, etc.
In the interviews, Sinner said the ruling was unfair. Meanwhile, those on the outside have started to place doubts on Sinner’s achievement and that it will always remain a cloud over his shoulder for the rest of his career.
