Novak Djokovic refuses to answer question on ‘poison’ claims

On the eve of his shot at an 11th Australian Open title, Novak Djokovic had no interest in addressing his dramatic Melbourne claim.

Novak Djokovic has refused to expand on claims he was “poisoned” during his infamous quarantine and deportation saga in Australia back in 2022.

The unvaccinated Serbian was embroiled in a hugely controversial incident during the global pandemic when his visa was cancelled and he was deported from Australia over “health and good order” grounds.

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It came on the eve of that year’s Australian Open, when Djokovic was the three-time defending champion and the No. 1 player in the world.

Confined to the Park Hotel in Carlton after his visa was cancelled by then-Immigration Minster Alex Hawke over Australia’s Covid-19 entry rules, the 37-year-old dramatically revealed he became seriously ill on his way home due to food he was fed in Melbourne.

Watch Novak Djokovic’s press conference in the video player above

Novak Djokovic departs a government detention facility in Melbourne in 2022. (AAP Image/James Ross)

“I realised that in that hotel in Melbourne I was fed with some food that poisoned me,” Djokovic said in an interview with GQ.

“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, very high level of lead and mercury.”

Djokovic returned to Australia in 2023 to win his record-extending 10th Australian Open title and was asked about the poisoning claim during a press conference on the eve of this year’s opening grand slam tournament.

“Look, the GQ article came out online yesterday,” Djokovic told reporters.

“I think it’s a February issue, so it’s coming out in print version.

Djokovic didn’t want to expand on his claim. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

“I’ve done that interview many months ago. I would appreciate not talking more in detail about that, as I would like to focus on the tennis and why I’m here.

“If you want to see what I’ve said and get more info on that, you can always revert to the article.”

In the article, the 24-time grand slam champion was pushed on whether he believed the illness had come from the food he ate while being detained and he responded by shrugging and stating “that’s the only way.”

In a comment provided to GQ, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs declined to comment, citing privacy reasons.

After being deported from Australia, Djokovic told the publication his health deteriorated rapidly on the flight back to Serbia.

Djokovic and coach Andy Murray during a practice session ahead of the 2025 Australian Open. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP)

“Yeah, very sick. It was like the flu, just a simple flu. But when it was days after that a simple flu took me down so much,” he said.

Djokovic says the illness hit him so hard his medical team took toxicology tests from him.

In an interview with the Herald Sun earlier this month, the superstar admitted he has some trauma returning to Australia and going through passport control.

But he also doesn’t hold any grudges against the Victorian capital despite the ordeal.

“I don’t hold any resentment to be honest,” Djokovic said.

“I don’t hold a grudge. I came like right away the year after in 2023 … and I won the Australian Open — it was my 22nd slam.

“My parents and whole team were there and it was actually one of the most emotional wins that I’ve ever had considering all that I’d been through the year before.”

The 2025 Australian Open officially gets underway on Sunday, January 12, with seventh seed Djokovic commencing his campaign against Nishesh Basavareddy the following day.

Originally published as Novak Djokovic refuses to answer question on ‘poison’ claims