As Jannik Sinner serves his three-month ban, the tennis world is still reeling from the aftershocks of his doping controversy. The Italian pro’s suspension, which runs from February 9 to May 4, has left fans and sponsors alike wondering what’s next for this tennis sensation. Despite the silence on social media, Sinner made a stylish appearance at Gucci’s 2025 Fall/Winter fashion show during Milan Fashion Week. But beneath the glamour, there’s a more serious story unfolding. The doping controversy, which began in March 2024, has raised questions about Sinner’s future with his sponsors and team. Could he face the music of losing major deals?
In a move that has left the tennis world buzzing, Italian tennis sensation Jannik Sinner has announced a major change in his management team. Taking to X on March 17, he revealed that after five years of collaboration with StarWing Sports, Sinner is parting ways with his long-time agent, Lawrence Frankopan, and will now be exclusively managed by AVIMA Sports & Business Management, led by Alex Vittur.
Frankopan, CEO of StarWing, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with Sinner, citing long-term commitments to StarWing as the reason for not joining AVIMA. “Given my long term commitments to StarWing Sports I was unable to accept their offer to work exclusively for AVIMA, but I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work for a talent like Jannik and proud of what we achieved together,” Frankopan said.
Sinner reciprocated the sentiment, thanking Frankopan and his team for their dedication over the years. “Lawrence Frankopan and his team have supported me so much and that will forever remain with me. I’d like to thank them for their dedication throughout the years,” Sinner stated. The Italian’s journey with StarWing began when he was just 18, and under their guidance, he rose to become one of the most marketable athletes in tennis. StarWing played a pivotal role in securing partnerships with top brands like La Roche Posay, Gucci, Rolex, and Lavazza, catapulting Sinner into the spotlight beyond the tennis court.
— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) March 17, 2025
Interestingly, Vittur, a former ATP player and founder of AVIMA, has been instrumental in Sinner’s career. Having facilitated his move to Riccardo Piatti’s tennis academy at age 14. Now, AVIMA promises to provide a dedicated support system aimed at nurturing athletes’ success, focusing on both business opportunities and well-being.
In the meantime, Sinner’s roster of high-profile brands remains intact for now. However, a prominent lawyer once relayed that sponsorship contracts often include clauses that allow for cancellation or penalties in the event of a doping scandal.
Renowned lawyer weighed in on the effects of Jannik Sinner’s doping controversy beyond the court
To catch you up, 2024 was Jannik’s year to shine. He catapulted to the top of the tennis world, claiming the No.1 spot after bagging not one, but two Grand Slams at the Australian Open and US Open. However, the doping controversy marred his meteoric rise in March, after he produced two positive tests for the banned substance Clostebol.He parted ways with his fitness coach, Umberto Ferrara, and physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, following the revelation that Naldi had used a spray containing the substance on himself before treating Sinner, leading to the unintentional contamination. Despite the ITIA clearing him in August due to ‘no fault or negligence,’ WADA revived the case in September and appealed it before CAS.
Back in November, prominent lawyer Angelo Cascella sounded the alarm on potential economic repercussions for Sinner. “Sponsorship contracts generally contain clauses that, in the event of a positive anti-doping test, can lead to the cancellation of a contract itself or to the payment of penalties by the athlete who may be found positive,” Cascella warned in an interview with Sport Mediaset.
Cascella added, “The risk for the athlete is to face sanctions, with Wada having requested a disqualification of one to two years, therefore focusing on fault or negligence.” Losing his sponsors could severely dent Sinner’s finances and reputation, making it tough to stay marketable. However, since then, the authorities have passed the verdict, and he will serve a three-month ban.
While it was met with some players like Novak Djokovic and Nick Kyrgios suggesting “favoritism” was at play. WADA’s general counsel, Ross Wenzel, clarified that this case was far from intentional doping, stating, “This was a case that was a million miles away from doping.” He emphasized that the scientific feedback indicated it couldn’t be a case of intentional doping, including micro-dosing.
As for his loss on the court, Sinner’s current ban runs from February 9 to May 4, 2025, meaning he’ll miss several key ATP events, including Indian Wells, the Miami Open, Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, and the Madrid Open. On the bright side, despite losing 1,600 ranking points, Sinner times his return perfectly for the French Open at Roland Garros. Not to mention, he can resume official training on April 13!
Now, the real question is: Can Sinner bounce back stronger than ever when he returns to the court? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The post Shocking Changes in Jannik Sinner’s Team Follow Harrowing Consequences of a Troubling Doping Controversy appeared first on EssentiallySports.