Tennis: Jannik Sinner’s coach on the doping controversy – ‘He would never intentionally do anything’

World No 1 Jannik Sinner is “honest to the core” and is an “innocent victim” his coach Darren Cahill said after the Italian was cleared of any wrongdoing despite twice testing positive for a banned substance.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency, or ITIA, said on Tuesday that Sinner had provided an in-competition sample at the Indian Wells Masters on March 10 which contained the presence of clostebol at low levels.

A further sample, conducted eight days later out of competition, also tested positive for low levels of the same metabolite.

Sinner had explained that the substance had originated from a spray, containing clostebol, that had been used by a member of his staff to treat a cut finger.

The ITIA accepted the explanation and said the “presence of the substance was not intentional.”

Cahill told ESPN in a television interview that the staff member in question was physio Giacomo Naldi who had been provided the over-the-counter spray from physical trainer Umberto Ferrara.

The Australian coach said it was not clear exactly how Naldi had provided the contamination to Sinner but suggested “working on the feet, a massage or whatever it may be.”

Cahill said there was no question at all of Sinner seeking to gain advantage through use of a banned substance.

“We’re not looking for any sorrow...

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