Novak Djokovic Gives Stern Response After Being Asked About Poisoning Accusations
News
Novak Djokovic shocked fans by accusing an immigration hotel of poisoning him three years ago while he was detained in Australia. However, the tennis legend did not like being asked about it during a press conference before the Australian Open.
Djokovic's detention before the 2022 Australian Open was among that year's most high-profile sports stories and caused significant division. Some were bitter toward Djokovic, but it also gained him many new fans.
Australia had strict rules about who could enter the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Djokovic, who beat Alexander Zverev in an exhibition match ahead of this year's Australian Open, received a medical exemption for the 2022 iteration of the tournament in Melbourne.
However, on January 5th, the Australian Border Force detained him after determining that his paperwork did not meet the country's entry requirements. Djokovic was then detained for five days in an immigration hotel.
On January 10th, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia ordered his release and paid him costs. Djokovic seemed free to compete at the season's opening Grand Slam until the immigration minister, Ethan Hawke, used his ministerial powers to deport him.
The Labor government elected in Australia a few months later subsequently reinstated Djokovic's visa, but that anxiety-inducing ordeal continues to live with him. He admitted to getting trauma when he returns to Melbourne Airport.
Djokovic's treatment throughout his detention caused concern during and afterward. Yet, he only recently made a shocking revelation in an interview with GQ about being given poisoned food while staying at the immigration hotel.
The ten-time Australian Open winner became unwell after returning to Serbia. Djokovic said testing showed a high level of lead and mercury in his system, and he believes only the food he ate at the hotel could have caused it.
That is an extraordinary claim. Unsurprisingly, a reporter at Djokovic's press conference asked whether he had evidence linking his heavy-blood levels to the hotel's food. However, Djokovic refused to comment further and told anyone interested to read the GQ interview.
"Look, the GQ article came out online yesterday. I think it's a February issue, so it's coming out in print version. I've done that interview many months ago. I would appreciate not talking more in detail about that, as I would like to focus on the tennis and why I'm here."
"If you want to see what I've said and get more info on that, you can always revert to the article."
While Djokovic's desire to focus on preparing for the Australian Open is understandable, his answer was still surprisingly stern. The claim he made was significant, and at least giving some level of detail in his answer during the press conference might have been expected.
Djokovic will hope his response is enough to convince other journalists not to ask about the topic again. It could elicit a heated response from the Serbian after he made his feelings clear about not wanting to discuss it.
