Was Novak Djokovic poisoned? Tennis star makes startling allegations about his time in Australia

Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has claimed that he was "poisoned" while staying at a quarantine hotel in Melbourne in January 2022. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was detained after admitting to providing false information on a travel document before the Australian Open 2022.

Djokovic’s visa was revoked due to inconsistencies in his travel documents and his unvaccinated status, which breached Australia’s strict COVID-19 entry regulations. During the legal proceedings, he was held in a Melbourne hotel before being deported, resulting in his absence from the 2022 Australian Open.

In an interview with a publication, Djokovic revealed that he faced serious health issues during his detention. “I had symptoms similar to a bad flu,” he stated, mentioning that he later underwent toxicology tests upon returning to Serbia. The results reportedly showed dangerously high levels of heavy metals, including lead and mercury, in his body.

“I realised that in that hotel in Melbourne, I was fed with food that poisoned me. That’s the only way it could have happened,” Djokovic alleged.

The detention controversy of Djokovic not only denied him the chance to compete in the Australian Open but also made him miss participating in the 2022 US Open due to vaccination requirements. However, Djokovic managed to return to Australia in 2023 and win his 10th Australian Open title.

While Djokovic does not harbor any grudge against Australia or Melbourne, he said that he still has some lingering trauma from what happened in 2022.

“The last couple of times I landed in Australia, going through passport control brought back memories,” Djokovic told The Herald Sun. He expressed his anxiety regarding immigration procedures, fearing he could end up in detention once more. “I still get nervous when I go through immigration,” he admitted.

Even though Djokovic has gotten over the situation in a very professional manner, he admitted that it still hurts him emotionally. It is one of the most important moments in his career, demonstrating the challenges top athletes face in handling complex international regulations during the pandemic.

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