Stefano Vukov, the former coach of top women’s tennis player Elena Rybakina, has been suspended following an independent investigation by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), the governing body announced.

The WTA confirmed that it had concluded an investigation into the coach’s potential breach of the Tour’s code of conduct and that his ban will remain in place.

Vukov had been provisionally suspended from coaching while under investigation; Rybakina maintains that he “never mistreated” her.

Elena Rybakina was disappointed at the WTA's decision to uphold a ban against her former coach Stefano Vukov following an investigation into a potential breach of its code of conduct, she said on Wednesday.

The suspension of Elena Rybakina’s former coach Stefano Vukov “remains in place,” the WTA Tour says after confirming it has completed its investigation into a potential breach of its code of conduct.

The WTA Tour has banned Stefano Vukov, Elena Rybakina’s former coach, from coaching and from obtaining credentials for professional tennis events. The organization did not specify the length of the suspension or how Vukov violated its rules,

Elena Rybakina has broken her silence after the WTA confirmed her coach Stefano Vukov would remain banned. At the beginning of the year, it emerged that Vukov had been provisionally suspended while the WTA investigated a potential breach of the Code of Conduct. The coach denied any wrongdoing.

The report also stated that there is evidence that suggests the two are in "a romantic relationship" since they stayed together in the same hotel room in Melbourne during this past Australian Open. Meanwhile, the 2022 Wimbledon champion claimed throughout the entire process that she was "never mistreated" by Vukov.

The Elena Rybakina coach controversy has sparked shockwaves after allegations of mistreatment, including claims of forced labor and health issues.

Elena Rybakina admitted that she was "disappointed" with how the WTA handled the Stefano Vukov situation and the verdict they made. On Tuesday, the news broke out that the Kazakh's coach was found guilty of breaching the WTA's conduct policy and that his ban was upheld.