Djokovic claims that he was being held in a Melbourne hotel before the 2022 Australian Open, where he was "poisoned by heavy metals" with food he ate.

Recently, Djokovic revealed in an interview with GQ Sports that he had health problems when he returned to Serbia after being deported from Australia. He said it was later discovered that the health problems were related to the food he consumed at the Melbourne hotel.

The background of the incident is that before the start of the 2022 Australian Open, Djokovic was detained after arriving at Melbourne airport because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19. He was first questioned at the airport and then transferred to a hotel where he was held for several days. He claimed that it was during this time that he ate food contaminated with "heavy metals".

Subsequently, although he was allowed to train for a short period of preparation, his visa was revoked a few days later and he was forced to leave Australia. Djokovic underwent a health check-up after returning to Serbia, which revealed high levels of lead and mercury in his body. "I have some health problems," he said. I realized that in that hotel in Melbourne, I was poisoned by the food I was eating. ”

He further explained: "When I returned to Serbia, I had a check-up. I have never disclosed the results of these tests to the public, but it shows very high levels of heavy metals, especially lead and mercury, in my body. "When asked about the reason for the high levels of heavy metals in his body, Djokovic suggested that it was related to the food he consumed at the hotel." This is the only possibility. He asserted.

Djokovic also said he was later treated by an "emergency medical team" and underwent "toxicology testing" and treatment.

So far, Djokovic has won a record 10 Australian Open titles. He will be looking to break his own title record in the first round of the 2025 Australian Open against Grand Slam debutant Nishesh Bassa Valedi, which will take place this Sunday (12 January).

Djokovic has attracted a lot of controversy for refusing to get vaccinated during the pandemic. He adheres to the principle of "freedom to choose what you consume in your body", which he believes is especially important as a professional athlete.

Djokovic has always been very conscious of his own body management, stressing that any substance ingested could affect his performance during the game and even lead to the misuse of banned drugs. For nearly a year, Sinner and Swiatek faced controversy over similar issues, and their careers' reputations were affected.

In an interview with GQ Magazine, Djokovic reiterated his reasons for refusing to get vaccinated: "I'm a professional athlete and I'm very concerned about what I consume. I often have various tests, including blood tests. I know exactly what my body is. So, I don't think it's necessary to get vaccinated. ”

Although this position was in line with what he had initially expressed, it provoked a fierce response in the early days of the pandemic. Many criticized his choice as selfish, as getting vaccinated is not only about protecting personal health, but also about protecting the community. However, Djokovic stuck to his decision and accepted the consequences that followed.

Djokovic missed many important tournaments due to his refusal to be vaccinated, not least because he could not enter the United States, where he was unable to participate in tournaments including the US Open, Indian Wells Masters and Miami Open. Some of these races could be another of his championship campaigns.

He was mentally prepared for these losses. He was willing to defend his belief in "free choice" at the cost of a portion of his career record. In the interview, he again stressed: "I am not an anti-vaxxer, nor am I a vaccine pro-person. I support the freedom of everyone to choose what is best for their body. So, when someone deprives me of the right to choose what I consume in my body, I don't think it's true. ”(Source: Tennis Home Author: Spark)