Jannik Sinner recently disclosed how having his father and coach Darren Cahill by his side during his doping test ordeal made him feel “safe.” The Italian credited his team for helping get through the emotionally draining period.
Sinner tested positive for low traces of Clostebol, a banned steroid, during his 2024 Indian Wells campaign in March. The amount found in his sample was deemed to have no performance-enhancing effects, and as per the evidence provided, it was determined that his physiotherapist had accidentally exposed him to the substance while using a Clostebol-containing medicine on his own injured finger.
Jannik Sinner was declared innocent in August 2024, but the WADA has since appealed the verdict, suggesting that the tennis player bore some “fault and negligence” for his team member’s error.
During a recent interview for Sky Sport and Intesa Sanpaolo, Jannik Sinner detailed how he relied on much-needed support from his team and family during the trying time.
“There are many things that happened in this period that I tried to put aside and understand what is the right thing to do at that moment,” he said (Translated from Italian).
The World No. 1 recalled that his coach Darren Cahill, who accompanies him to a few tournaments, decided to extend his stay to be with him and the team (which also includes his other coach, Simone Vagnozzi). He added that his father, Hanspeter, who joins him occasionally, increased his presence during the emotional period.