Tennis: Djokovic claims to have been “poisoned” in Australia

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic claims he was ‘poisoned’ in 2022, while he was in custody in Australia before being expelled from the country for not having been vaccinated against Covid-19, in an interview published Thursday on the website of “GQ” magazine.

“I had health problems. And I realized that in this hotel in Melbourne (editor’s note: where he was detained)I was given food which poisoned me,” said the winner of 24 Grand Slam tournaments, who will try to win 25^e at the Australian Open (January 12-26).

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

In his body, Djokovic assured to have 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.

“Confidentiality” of cases

L’ex-N^o 1 worldwide, today 7^ehad 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, Djokovic was finally expelled from Australia and was unable to play in the tournament, which he however won for the tenth time a year later, in 2023.

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

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

AFP

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