Serbian Tennis star Novak Djokovic claims to have been “poisoned” in 2022, when he was in detention in Australia before being expelled from the country for failing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, in an interview published Thursday on the magazine’s website GQ.
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“I had health problems. And I realized that in this hotel in Melbourne [où il était détenu, NDLR] I was given food which poisoned me,” said the winner of 24 Grand Slam tournaments, who will try to win a 25th at the Australian Open.
“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.
The former world number 1, now seventh, 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 10th time a year later, in 2023.
Friday at a press conference, Djokovic refused to comment on his interview with GQ and pointed out that it had been made “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.
