Novak Djokovic claims to have been “poisoned” before his exclusion from Australia in 2022

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic claims to have been ‘poisoned’ in 2022while he was in detention in Australia before being expelled from the country for not having been vaccinated against Covid-19, in an interview published this Thursday, January 9, 2025 on the magazine’s website GQ.

I had health problems. And I realized that in this hotel in Melbourne (where he was detained, Editor’s note) I was given food which poisoned me.

“Heavy metals”

“I discovered things when I returned to Serbia. I never said it publicly, but I discovered high levels of heavy metals.”

In his body, Novak Djokovic assured that he had discovered “lead, a very high level of lead and mercury”.

Asked whether the contamination was of food origin, the Serb judged that it was “the only explanation” possible.

It was like a simple flu but I was very weak, even in the days that followed. I then had to do toxicology tests.

Asked about Novak Djokovic’s statements, an Australian Department of Home Affairs spokesperson declined to comment, citing “confidentiality” of individual cases.

Controversy in 2022

The former world No.1, now 7th, created controversy by refusing to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

At the start of 2022, after his arrival on Australian territory to play the first Grand Slam of the season, his visa was canceled. After being detained, Novak Djokovic was finally expelled from Australia and was unable to play in the tournament, which he won for the tenth time a year later, in 2023.

Friday at a press conference, Novak Djokovic refused to comment on his interview with GQ and emphasized that it had been carried out “months” earlier. “I would like to concentrate on tennis,” he said.

The winner of 24 Grand Slam tournaments will try to win a 25th at the Australian Open (January 12-26).

Source: AFP.

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