ROME (AP) — Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner has made headlines once again by rehiring Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach. This decision comes nearly a year after Sinner parted ways with Ferrara due to his involvement in Sinner's doping case.

The move signifies a change in Sinner's coaching team, as he has recently removed fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio. According to a statement from Sinner’s team issued on Wednesday, “Umberto has played an important role in Jannik’s development to date, and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level.”

In March of last year, Sinner tested positive for a trace amount of the anabolic steroid Clostebol. This situation was not made public until August, just before the U.S. Open, an event he ultimately won, marking the second of his four Grand Slam titles. Initially, Sinner was cleared of any wrongdoing, positing that he had been inadvertently exposed to the banned substance through a massage delivered by his then-physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi.

During this incident, Sinner alleged that his fitness trainer at the time, Ferrara, had purchased a product in Italy, which was then unintentionally transferred to Naldi for a cut on his finger, leading to Sinner being treated without gloves. Following the exposure and consequent doping case, Sinner took significant steps, terminating his relationships with both Naldi and Ferrara.

Ferrara briefly worked with Matteo Berrettini, another Italian tennis player, after his departure from Sinner's team. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the initial exoneration from Sinner. To resolve the matter, Sinner agreed to a three-month ban, which concluded just before the Italian Open in May of this year.

Despite the challenges surrounding this doping case, Sinner rebounded professionally and secured the Wimbledon title, affirming his status in the tennis world. He is now slated to return to competitive play at the Cincinnati Open next month as he prepares to defend his U.S. Open title.

Overall, Jannik Sinner's decision to bring back Umberto Ferrara into his coaching staff symbolizes a potential strategy aimed at stability and high performance in his tennis career moving forward.