Blame shift in Jannik Sinner's doping case: Physio's intriguing revelation

Former physio of Italy’s tennis star Jannik Sinner has stated that it was not entirely his fault that the reigning world number one tested positive twice in doping tests. The 23-year-old, who is already regarded as one of the best players currently playing in the men’s tennis in the singles category, has been in the news recently for the wrong reasons.

Sinner were tested positive on two occasions for a banned substance Clostebol but narrowly managed to escape a ban after investigations revealed that it was his physio Giacomo Naldi who was at fault as he applied the spray to his cut which contained the banned substance. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted the player’s counsel’s stance where they claimed that the player was not responsible for the positive tests. However, the case has been once again in the news after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed against the verdict in front of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Naldi, for the first time, has spoken to a media outlet La Stampa where he stated it was not entirely his fault. He also stated that even though the decision between the player and himself deteriorated after the doping tests but the two-time Grand Slam winner did wish him on the birth of his child.

“I’m sorry like everyone else, but I can’t say anything else because unfortunately, it’s not over yet,” he said. “From how this affair has been interpreted by the general public it seems that it was only my fault. But that’s not the case, as anyone who has read the ruling knows. I realise that not everyone has made this effort. Jannik was very kind: when Letizia was born, he wrote to me. Like the whole team. I have a cordial relationship with Jannik. In general, I have received demonstrations of affection especially from those who know me personally. On social media, however, I have read bad messages and I have been insulted. Because what happened, in the telling of this story, happened a little badly.”