 "Novak Djokovic was detained in Melbourne for five days in 2022 before being deported. Reuters")
Novak Djokovic has claimed that he was “poisoned” with “very high level of lead and mercury” in his food while he was detained in Melbourne ahead of his deportation prior to the 2022 Australian Open.
In 2022, Djokovic’s visa was revoked after the Serb failed to vaccinate himself against COVID-19. Before being deported, Djokovic was detained in a Melbourne hotel for five days before his legal battle ended in an unsuccessful outcome.
Djokovic: ‘I was fed poisoned food’
“I had some health issues. And I realized that in that hotel in Melbourne, I was fed with some food that poisoned me," claimed Djokovic in an interview with GQ Magazine. “I had some discoveries when I came back to Serbia. I never told this to anybody publicly, but discoveries that I had a really high level of heavy metal. I had lead, a very high level of lead and mercury,” continued the 24-time Grand Slam winner.
When asked if his food was contaminated, Djokovic commented: “That’s the only way.”
The 37-year-old also reiterated that despite deportation, his views on vaccination have not changed and he still advocates for freedom to choose what someone wants to do.
“My stance is exactly the same today as it was a few years ago,” Djokovic said. “I’m not pro-vaccine. I’m not anti-vax. I am pro-freedom to choose what is right for you and your body. So when somebody takes away my right to choose what I should be taking for my body, I don’t think that’s correct," he added.
Once he was deported from Australia, Djokovic took off to Spain in a private plane. His family was staying there at the time, but later they rerouted the flight to Serbia. Djokovic explained the reason behind this. “Why? Because they had information through lawyers that if I land in Spain, I’ll probably go through the same thing as in Australia,” added the 37-year-old. Eventually, Djokovic and his family caught up in Serbia.
Deportation trauma still haunts Djokovic
In a separate interview, recently, Djokovic shared that he is still reminded of the deportation trauma every time he lands in Australia but doesn’t hold any grudge against anyone. In fact, Djokovic returned to Melbourne in 2023 and won his 10th Australian Open title, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in the final.
“The last couple of times I landed in Australia, to go through passport control and immigration - I had a bit of trauma from three years ago,” Djokovic told Melbourne’s Herald Sun.
“I don’t hold a grudge. I came right away the year after and I won,” he said. “My parents and whole team were there and it was actually one of the most emotional wins I’ve ever had, considering all that I’d been through the year before."