Sinner's Former Trainer Ferrara Speaks Out on Doping Scandal

Umberto Ferrara, Jannik Sinner's former physical trainer, has spoken out about the doping scandal surrounding the tennis player, shifting the blame to Sinner's former physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi.

Umberto Ferrara, the former physical trainer of tennis world number one Jannik Sinner, has spoken out about the doping scandal surrounding the Italian player. Ferrara claims he is blameless in the case, which saw Sinner test positive twice for a banned substance.

Sinner, a three-time Grand Slam champion, received a three-month ban in February after reaching an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). As part of the agreement, Sinner admitted to bearing “partial responsibility” for mistakes made by his team. However, Ferrara has distanced himself from any wrongdoing, shifting the blame solely onto Sinner's physio.

Ferrara's comments come as Sinner serves out his ban, which has seen him miss several high-profile tournaments. The Italian player's admission of partial responsibility has raised questions about the role of his support team in the doping scandal. Ferrara's denial of any involvement has added another layer of complexity to the case, which continues to attract significant attention in the tennis world.

Umberto Ferrara, Jannik Sinner's former physical trainer, has publicly spoken out about the doping scandal surrounding the tennis player. Ferrara has laid the blame squarely on Sinner's former physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi. Both Ferrara and Naldi have been let go by Sinner since the scandal came to light.

According to Ferrara, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted that Sinner had inadvertently been contaminated with the banned substance clostebol by Naldi. Ferrara shared his side of the story with Gazzetta dello Sport, stating that he had used the spray himself for years, as it was prescribed by a doctor for an illness. “I was perfectly aware that it was banned so I always kept it safely stashed away in my wash bag,” Ferrara explained.

Ferrara claimed that he had suggested to Naldi to use the spray for a cut that had not healed and was affecting his work. However, he emphasized that he had explicitly warned Naldi about the nature of the product and the importance of keeping it away from Sinner. “I suggested to Naldi to use it for a cut which had not healed and was affecting his work. I was absolutely clear when I spoke to him about the nature of the product and it was imperative it never came into contact with Jannik. In effect I told him to use it only in my bathroom,” Ferrara said. He added that Naldi did not deny being told about the product's banned status but claimed he could not recall the conversation.

🇮🇹👇 Jannik Sinner’s ex-fitness coach Umberto Ferrara says the spray he took to the US was used to treat a chronic condition, before another colleague contaminated Sinner:

"I have been using it [Trofodermin] for years as prescribed by the specialist doctor as a support drug for… pic.twitter.com/2HnzuOxPE6

— Olly Tennis 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) April 3, 2025

Umberto Ferrara has spoken out about the circumstances surrounding Jannik Sinner's doping scandal, revealing that he had no knowledge of Giacomo Naldi's careless handling of the banned substance. Ferrara stated that Naldi had been gloveless and failed to wash his hands after using the spray, which ultimately led to Sinner's contamination. “With hindsight, it is easy to say I would not do things the same way,” Ferrara reflected.

Ferrara expressed his disappointment and frustration with the actions of others involved in the scandal. “Of course I am not proud of the behaviour of others,” he said. Ferrara also felt that he had suffered unfairly due to the actions of others, stating, “I have suffered during this affair owing to the bad faith of some.” Ferrara has since moved on to join the entourage of 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini.

Jannik Sinner's suspension is set to end on May 4th, allowing him to return to competition in time for the French Open. Sinner will also compete in the clay-court tournament in Hamburg, as well as the Italian Open in Rome from May 7th-18th. As the reigning US and Australian Open champion, Sinner will be looking to build on his previous success, which includes reaching the French Open semi-finals last year. The 2024 French Open is scheduled to take place from May 25th to June 8th.