Men’s world number one Jannik Sinner has fired his fitness trainer and physiotherapist after escaping a doping ban despite failing two drug tests in March.

Sinner tested positive for the anabolic agent clostebol, which can be used to build muscle mass, after his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi applied an over-the-counter spray to a cut on his own hand before carrying out treatments on Sinner.

The spray was given to Naldi by trainer Umberto Ferrara.

The International Tennis Integrity Authority (ITIA) announced this week Sinner was cleared of fault or negligence by an independent tribunal.

The tribunal accepted Sinner’s explanation that he had inadvertently been contaminated with the substance by Naldi.

Sinner has spoken publicly for the first time since the ITIA’s announcement, confirming he is no longer working with Naldi and Ferrara.

“They (Naldi and Ferrara) have been a huge part for my career,” Sinner said at a media conference ahead of the US Open in New York.

“We made an incredible job, bringing a lot of success and then having a great team behind me.

“Now, because of these mistakes, I’m not feeling that confident to continue with them.

“I was struggling a lot in the last months. I was waiting for the result. The only thing I need right now is some clean air.”

Sinner’s case has created a storm, considering other players who fail doping tests usually get suspended during the course of the investigation.

Nick Kyrgios criticised the decision to clear Sinner of wrongdoing, suggesting the Australian Open champion be given a two-year ban.

Sinner has repeatedly maintained his innocence and said he was able to keep playing because his support team quickly identified the source of the contamination.

“The reason why I could have played was because we knew where the substance was in and how it came into my body,” he said.

“This is very important, making this process, to letting them know, and they understood it straightaway.”

Asked if he had concerns about the damage the controversy might cause to his reputation, Sinner said: “In my mind I knew that I haven’t done anything wrong.

“Whoever knows me very well knows that I haven’t done and I would never do something what goes against the rules.

“About the reputation, we will see moving forward, no? Because this, I can’t really control.”

‘There is no shortcut’

Sinner insisted he received the same treatment as his fellow players.

“Every player who gets tested positive has to go through the same process,” he said.

“There is no shortcut, there is no different treatment, they are all the same process.

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“I know sometimes the frustration of other players obviously. 

“But maybe because they got suspended is they didn’t know exactly where it comes from, also what substance, but the main reason is where it comes from and how it entered in his own system. 

“We knew it straightaway.”

American Frances Tiafoe, who Sinner beat in the Cincinnati Open final earlier this week, sidestepped the controversy when he faced the media in New York.

“Government bodies do what they did,” Tiafoe said.

“Obviously, he’s cleared to play and that’s obviously all that matters. I’m just trying to focus on the US Open.”

The US Open start on Monday, with Sinner to play American Mackie McDonald in the first round.

Reuters