Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic has alleged that he was “poisoned” during his detention in Melbourne ahead of the 2022 Australian Open, according to an interview published by GQ on Thursday.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion said he fell ill from food served at the hotel where he was held after Australian authorities canceled his visa over his unvaccinated status amid strict COVID-19 entry regulations.
“I realized that in that hotel in Melbourne, I was fed food that poisoned me,” Djokovic was quoted as saying.
The 37-year-old claimed subsequent medical tests conducted after his return to Serbia revealed “very high levels of heavy metals” in his body, including lead and mercury.
Djokovic was detained in early 2022 after his visa exemption was revoked, sparking international controversy. He was eventually deported following a legal battle, preventing him from competing in the tournament.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs declined to comment on the poisoning claims, citing privacy concerns.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who was not in office at the time of the incident, avoided commenting on the allegations when asked on Friday. “I haven’t seen those comments, so I’m not going to respond to comments that I haven’t seen,” he said.
Albanese did, however, offer goodwill to the tennis star, saying, “I wish Mr. Djokovic very well, all the very best on the court over the period of the Australian Open.”
Djokovic also described his deportation as politically motivated, telling GQ: “It was so political. It had nothing really to do with vaccine or Covid or anything else. The politicians could not stand me being there. For them, I think, it was less damage to deport me than to keep me there.”
Despite his ordeal, Djokovic expressed no ill will toward Australia. “I actually love being there, and I think my results are a testament to my sensation of playing tennis and just being in that country,” he said.
