Djokovic wants to ‘focus on tennis’ after poisoning claim

Novak Djokovic claims in a magazine interview that he was “poisoned” while being detained in a hotel in Melbourne and wants to “focus on tennis.”

The 37-year-old Serb left a pre-Australian Open news conference without getting any further explanation, which local reporters unsuccessfully demanded.

Djokovic, a record 10-time men’s champion at Melbourne Park, was deported from the Australian city in 2022 after arriving without a vaccination against Covid-19.

He was deported because he was unable to overturn the government’s decision to revoke his visa on grounds of public health.

In an interview with GQ magazine published on Thursday, Djokovic said he had “some health issues” when he returned to Serbia.

He continued, “I realized that I was given some food that poisoned me at that hotel in Melbourne.”

“I experienced a very high level of heavy metal. Heavy metal. I had the lead, very high level of lead and mercury”.

The allegations have not been addressed by the Australian Border Force.

Before the player said he would respond to another question from an Australian reporter, the moderator had already wrapped up Djokovic’s news conference on Friday.

She questioned Djokovic about his claim that the food he was served at the Park Hotel caused the high metal levels.

“I’ve done that interview many months ago”, he replied.

I would appreciate not going into more detail about that because I want to concentrate on my sport and my purpose.

Djokovic, who arrived in Australia at the end of December, claimed this week that he still experiences “trauma” there.

A newspaper poll conducted shortly before Djokovic’s deportation in 2022 revealed 71% of Australians thought he should be deported, but he was greeted warmly when he made his way back to Melbourne Park in 2023.

One Australian academic, speaking to the Guardian, said Djokovic’s claim was a “wild accusation”.

Given how long he was imprisoned, Damian Maganja, a research fellow in food policy at the George Institute for Global Health, said, “It’s possible but very unlikely.”

According to what I’m aware of, these meals were probably prepared in large quantities, and none of them have been confirmed elsewhere.

Djokovic was taken to a hotel for immigration where asylum seekers and refugees have frequently complained about the conditions there.

Detainees had complained about finding maggots in their food shortly before Djokovic arrived at the Park Hotel in December 2022.

By the time Djokovic was dispatched there, the hotel had been granted a food service license and certification by the City of Melbourne. The city’s Department of Health conducted the audit and inspection.

Detainees are said to have had access to a variety of food and beverages, which was deemed nutritious, culturally appropriate and met any specific medical or dietary requirements.

Djokovic has long been associated with a mostly plant-based diet, and he has frequently cited this as a recipe for success.