Novak Djokovic claims he was poisoned while detained in Australian immigration centre over vaccine stance
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Novak Djokovic has made shocking claims that he was poisoned with high levels of lead and mercury whilst detained in an Australian immigration hotel three years ago.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion revealed to GQ magazine that he discovered "really high" levels of heavy metals in his system after returning to Serbia following his deportation from Melbourne in 2022.
The 37-year-old tennis star alleges the contamination came from food served at Melbourne's Park Hotel, where he was held during his visa cancellation ordeal ahead of that year's Australian Open.
"I had some health issues. And I realised that in that hotel in Melbourne I was fed some food that poisoned me," Djokovic told GQ ahead of this year's Australian Open.
"I had some discoveries when I came back to Serbia.
"I never told this to anybody publicly, but discoveries that I was – I had a really high level of heavy metal.
"Heavy metal. I had the lead, a very high level of lead and mercury."
When pressed on whether he believed the contamination came from the food served at the detention facility, Djokovic was unequivocal: "That's the only way."
Djokovic's detention in 2022 came after he arrived in Australia with a medical exemption but did not meet the country's Covid vaccine requirements at the time.
The world No. 7 endured a 10-day ordeal that saw his visa cancelled twice by Australian authorities.
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Then-Immigration Minister Alex Hawke ultimately used his powers to deny Djokovic entry into the country, resulting in his deportation on the eve of the tournament.
The Serbian star was held at the Park Hotel for five days as he challenged the decision before being sent home, missing the chance to defend his Australian Open title.
The Park Hotel, which began housing refugees and asylum seekers in 2020, had long faced complaints about poor conditions from its detainees.
Novak Djokovic was denied entry to Australia due to his vaccine status
Reuters
Djokovic's high-profile detention brought international attention to the treatment of asylum seekers at the facility.
By April 2022, just three months after Djokovic's deportation, the final detainees were released from the hotel.
When approached about Djokovic's latest allegations, Australia's Department of Home Affairs told GQ they could not comment on individual cases for privacy reasons.
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