Giacomo Naldi has admitted that he is 'hurting' after being sacked as Jannik Sinner's physiotherapist in the wake of his recent doping saga. On Tuesday, it was revealed that Sinner had twice tested positive for clostebol, a banned substance, at Indian Wells earlier this year.

The reigning Australian Open champion was later cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), avoiding the maximum punishment of a two-year ban. Sinner claimed the amount of clostebol found in his system was less than a billionth of a gram.

An independent tribunal found that Sinner's positive tests could have been down to Naldi inadvertently rubbing the substance into his skin.

He was said to have been using a spray available in Italy, which was recommended by fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara, to treat a cut on his own finger. Naldi then did not wear gloves while treating Sinner.

Sinner parted ways with Naldi in the wake of the saga, with the Italian shaking up his support team ahead of the US Open. Naldi has since issued a lengthy statement on Instagram, saying that he was proud to work alongside Sinner and wishes him well for the future.

He also insisted that he always remained fully professional and claimed he was the victim of a trial by media, given the widespread reports of his involvement in Sinner's positive tests.

"It’s true that there are two paths to justice: the real one sanctioned by the courts and the (unfortunately more effective) sanctioned by media," wrote Naldi. "The latter is too often superficial and rarely based on concrete facts, which in this case, by the way, are public.

"As a spectator, I always wondered what was the purpose of spectacular court cases, if not to judge, create or destroy people and their reputation. Today I’m the star, I’ve confirmed it.

"A year and a half ago I joined a fantastic work group, consisting of good people, great professionals, travel companions. With them I have lived moments of joy and pain, shared emotions, tasted victories and defeats. With the people of this group, I created a strong bond.

"Above all, I was able to achieve historical milestones that have brought us to the history of Italian tennis. I am proud to have been a part of this great team, aware that I have given my best, that I have been 100 per cent professional but also that I have given more, because when you put your heart into it you are sure to give more.

"It hurts to think of not being a part of it anymore, it's hard not to be in the box with you and cheering for Jannik, but I'll have to get used to it quickly. Thank you Jannik and good luck, for a great career, you are a champion."

Ferrara is also said to have left Sinner's camp in the aftermath of the doping saga, news of which emerged just days before the start of the US Open. Sinner will be hoping to put it behind him as he prepares to battle Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic for glory at Flushing Meadows.