Novak Djokovic Claims He Was “Poisoned” by Food During 2022 Australian Open Detention
Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has made a shocking claim, alleging that he was “poisoned” by food he was given while detained in a Melbourne hotel during his 2022 Australian Open visa saga. The 24-time Grand Slam winner said that he had high levels of heavy metal, including lead and mercury, in his system, which he attributed to the food he was given.
Djokovic was detained in a hotel shared with asylum seekers ahead of the tournament, and claimed that he was fed food that “poisoned” him. He said that he was very sick with flu-like symptoms, and had to be treated multiple times by an emergency medical team.
The Serbian tennis star had his visa cancelled ahead of the Australian Open due to controversy over his unvaccinated status and his involvement in a dispute over the country’s Covid entry rules. Djokovic has since said that he does not hold any grudges, and is focused on his upcoming matches, including the 2024 Australian Open.
The tennis ace had previously faced backlash over his decision to knowingly flout isolation measures in Serbia while infected with Covid-19. He was banned from competing in several Grand Slams, including the Australian Open and the US Open, due to his unvaccinated status.
In an interview, Djokovic said that he was never anti-vaccination, but rather was exercising his freedom to choose not to have the Covid shot. He added that he was feeling like a “villain of the world” after being banned from competing.
Despite his recent setbacks, Djokovic is seeking a record-extending 11th Australian Open men’s singles title and 25th Grand Slam in Melbourne later this month. However, he suffered a disappointing defeat to Reilly Opelka at the Brisbane International last week, raising concerns about his form heading into the tournament.
