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.

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

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.

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.

After a WTA investigation, Stefano Vukov has been banned from coaching due to abuse against his former client Elena Rybakina.

Elena Rybakina's former coach, Stefano Vukov, says he "never abused anyone" as the women's tennis tour upholds his ban.

Elena Rybakina struggled a bit early against 46th-ranked Rebecca Sramkova but ultimately managed to break the Slovak's resistance and get the job done in two sets 7-6 (1) 6-2 in their Doha round-of-16 match. Early in the match, the No. 5 seed opened a 3-0 lead but it didn't take long before the Slovakian tennis player managed to get the break back.

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