Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner has re-appointed his fitness coach Umberto Ferrara with immediate effect, the world number 1 has confirmed.

The Italian parted ways with Ferrara and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi last year following an investigation into Sinner's two positive tests for the banned substance clostebol in March.

"The decision was taken in consultation with Jannick's management team as part of the preparations for the upcoming tournaments, including Cincinnati and the US Open. Umberto has played a key role in Jannick's development to date and his return reflects a renewed focus on consistency and performance at the highest level", Sinner's team said in a statement.

The world number one was handed a three-month ban in February agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency. WADA had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against an independent tribunal's decision last August to clear Sinner.

The Italian returned in May and lost a dramatic five-set final against Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros, before beating the Spaniard to win the title in London. He claimed that the muscle-building drug clostebol entered his body after Naldi used a spray to treat a wound on his hand. The spray was given to Naldi by Ferrara. Ultimately, an independent tribunal accepted that the substance entered the world number one's body unintentionally.

Ferrara, who blamed Naldi for the incident, worked with Sinner's compatriot Matteo Berrettini this year. | BGNES