The controversy surrounding Djokovic’s detention not solely prevented him from taking part in in the Australian Open but in addition the 2022 US Open due to vaccination necessities.
Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has claimed that he was “poisoned” whereas staying at a quarantine resort in Melbourne in January 2022. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was detained after admitting to offering false data on a journey doc earlier than the Australian Open 2022.
Djokovic’s visa was revoked resulting from inconsistencies in his journey paperwork and his unvaccinated standing, which breached Australia’s strict COVID-19 entry laws. During the authorized proceedings, he was held in a Melbourne resort earlier than being deported, ensuing in his absence from the 2022 Australian Open.
In an interview with a publication, Djokovic revealed that he confronted severe well being points throughout his detention. “I had symptoms similar to a bad flu,” he acknowledged, mentioning that he later underwent toxicology exams upon returning to Serbia. The outcomes reportedly confirmed dangerously excessive ranges of heavy metals, together with lead and mercury, in his physique.
“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 solely denied him the prospect to compete in the Australian Open but in addition made him miss taking part in the 2022 US Open resulting from vaccination necessities. However, Djokovic managed to return to Australia in 2023 and win his tenth Australian Open title.
While Djokovic doesn’t harbor any grudge towards Australia or Melbourne, he mentioned that he nonetheless has some lingering trauma from what occurred in 2022.
“The last couple of times I landed in Australia, going through passport control brought back memories,” Djokovic instructed The Herald Sun. He expressed his anxiousness relating to immigration procedures, fearing he might find yourself in detention as soon as extra. “I still get nervous when I go through immigration,” he admitted.
Even although Djokovic has gotten over the state of affairs in a really skilled method, he admitted that it nonetheless hurts him emotionally. It is likely one of the most vital moments in his profession, demonstrating the challenges high athletes face in dealing with complicated worldwide laws throughout the pandemic.
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