September 16, (THEWILL) – Italian tennis star, Jannik Sinner, has hired Marco Panichi, Novak Djokovic’s former fitness coach, following Sinner’s clearance in a recent doping case. Sinner announced the addition of Panichi and physiotherapist, Ulises Badio, to his team via social media on Monday, sharing a photo of the trio.
The new appointments come after Sinner parted ways with his previous fitness coach, Umberto Ferrara and physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, before his US Open victory. This change occurred in the wake of two positive doping tests in March, where Sinner tested positive for clostebol.
Sinner explained that the trace amounts of the banned substance were due to a spray used by a staff member to treat a cut finger. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), accepted this explanation, leading to Sinner’s clearance. However, the decision sparked controversy, with players like Australian Nick Kyrgios expressing strong disagreement.
Panichi brings significant experience to Sinner’s team, having worked with notable players such as Fabio Fognini, Angelique Kerber, and Li Na. His most recent high-profile role was with Novak Djokovic, where he served from 2019, until earlier this year.
The timing of these team changes is noteworthy, coming shortly after Sinner’s US Open triumph and the resolution of his doping case.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
