August 21st 2024.
Darren Cahill was the coach who led Jannik Sinner to victory at the Australian Open in January. However, things took a turn for the worse when Sinner twice tested positive for a banned substance. This has been a trying time for the young tennis star both mentally and physically, but Cahill is relieved that the truth has finally been revealed.
Back in March, while competing at Indian Wells, Sinner tested positive for trace amounts of the banned substance clostebol. Another sample taken eight days later also showed low levels of the same metabolite. However, after an independent tribunal and investigation by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, Sinner was cleared of any wrongdoing. It was ruled that a bare-handed massage from his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, had led to the contamination.
Sinner's team explained that Naldi had used an over-the-counter spray, given to him by physical trainer Umberto Ferrara, to treat a small cut on his hand before giving treatment to the Australian Open champion. In a brief statement, Sinner expressed his desire to move on from this challenging and unfortunate time. However, there are some, like Nick Kyrgios, who believe that Sinner should have faced a lengthy ban for this incident.
Despite this, Cahill, who has been Sinner's coach since 2022, maintains that the 23-year-old would never intentionally ingest a banned substance. He stated that it has been a difficult few months for everyone involved and that they were all aware of the seriousness of the situation. Cahill went on to explain that during the incident in question, Naldi had accidentally cut his finger on a scalpel while reaching into his medical bag. He had then used a spray, which is common in Italy, to help with the healing process. It was later discovered that this spray contained a banned substance.
Cahill also clarified that Sinner had no knowledge of this and had even asked Naldi about any ointments or creams used on his finger, to which Naldi had truthfully replied that he had not used anything. The coach believes that the substance must have been transferred from Naldi's finger to Sinner's through the massage or other treatments. He also mentioned that there have been previous cases of Italian players testing positive due to this particular spray.
When asked how the spray ended up near Sinner, Cahill explained that Naldi had been working with tennis players for 15 years and was well-versed in anti-doping and WADA rules. He also mentioned that Naldi was in charge of Sinner's anti-doping, diet, and physical training, and it was unclear why he had the spray in his possession.
Cahill also spoke about how the ordeal has taken a toll on Sinner, both mentally and physically. He believes that it may have contributed to Sinner getting sick with tonsillitis, which ultimately led to him missing out on the Olympics in Paris. The coach stated that it has been a tough situation for everyone involved, and he has seen a noticeable change in Sinner's body language and physicality on the court.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Cahill is grateful that there is no ban attached to this incident and is hopeful that Sinner can put this behind him and continue to improve his game. He also emphasized that Sinner is a dedicated and professional young man who would never intentionally do anything to cheat. Cahill hopes that now that the truth is out, Sinner can move on and focus on his future in tennis.
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