Novak Djokovic investigated for international offences over Covid-19, travel law-breaking

Novak Djokovic’s hellish start to 2022 now involves being investigated over international offences committed in three countries. We reveal what penalties – and jail time – he’s facing.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts as he takes part in tennis match during a charity exhibition hosted by him, in Belgrade on June 12, 2020. - Novak Djokovic has also tested positive for coronavirus on June 23, 2020 along with Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki, after taking part in an exhibition tennis tournament in the Balkans featuring world number one Novak Djokovic, raising questions over the sport's planned return in August. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP)

Novak Djokovic is under suspicion of committing a slew of international offences over his actions after he tested positive to Covid-19.

In some cases, he’s even admitted guilt.

Here’s what the world No.1 stands accused of and the heavy penalties he may face.

BREACHING ISOLATION

Djokovic tested positive to Covid-19 in a PCR test in Serbia at 8.19pm on December 16.

He claims to have only found out on December 17, after he spent the day handing out trophies to children at his tennis centre.

Under Serbian regulations, a person who receives a positive test must isolate for 14-days.

But Djokovic admits he breached isolation for an interview and photoshoot with French magazine L’Equipe on December 18 when he knew he had the virus.

PENALTY – Fine or up to 3 years prison

(Failure to Act Pursuant to Health Regulations During Epidemic, Serbian Criminal Code)

Novak Djokovic is being investigated for offences in three nations. Picture: Getty

ENTERING SPAIN

Djokovic was seen training in Spain at the SotoTennis academy on December 31, following a negative PCR test in Serbia on December 22.

But Spain requires unvaccinated entrants to have a special exemption.

No proof of such an exemption seems to exist.

Spanish authorities are investigating.

PENALTY – Unknown

AUSSIE DECLARATION LIE

When Djokovic entered Australia in the early hours of January 6, he was required under new pandemic rules to fill out a travel declaration form.

On this form, Djokovic was asked if he had travelled within 14 days of flying to Australia.

He ticked, ‘no’.

But in a bombshell statement on January 12, the Serbian admitted this wasn’t true – he’d travelled from Serbia to Spain during that time – and blamed his agent.

“This was human error and certainly not deliberate,” he wrote.

PENALTY – 12 months jail

(Biosecurity Act)

Djokovic travelled to Spain to train – but may not have had the correct Covid-19 vaccination exemption. Picture: Reuters video

GIVING FALSE EVIDENCE

Djokovic gave evidence to a court that he tested positive to Covid-19 on December 16.

But in the tennis star’s latest statement, he now claims to have only found out about his positive PCR test after he spent the day with children at his tennis centre on December 17.

Questions remain over the discrepancies between his affidavit to the Federal Circuit Court on January 10, and his public statement on January 12.

This could give rise to an offence of giving false evidence.

PENALTY – Five years jail

(Crimes Act)

NOVAK DJOKOVIC COVID SAGA TIMELINE

2020

APRIL

Djokovic makes clear his stance that he’s publicly opposed to vaccination, and “wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel”.

JUNE

He’s roundly criticised for organising his own tournament, the Adria Tour – which is cut short when he and other players,  including Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev, test positive to Covid-19.

2021

OCTOBER

Victorian authorities confirm that all professional athletes must be double-vaccinated to gain entry into Australia.

DECEMBER

December 10

The deadline for a medical exemption to be submitted to Tennis Australia passes.

December 14

Djokovic attends a basketball match in Belgrade where numerous people subsequently test positive for Covid-19.

December 16

An important day. Djokovic claims to test negative on a Rapid Antigen Test, while also taking a PCR test – the results of which are reportedly returned at 8.19pm. Under Serbian rules, Djokovic’s 14-day self-isolation begins. Earlier, he attends an event to launch a new stamp with his picture on it.

December 17

Djokovic is pictured at an awards ceremony at the Novak Tennis Academy in Belgrade, where he mingles with children. An asymptomatic Djokovic says he returned a negative RAT test prior to the event, and didn’t learn of his positive PCR test result until later.

December 18

Conducts a 33-minute interview with French newspaper L'Equipe in Belgrade, posing maskless in a photoshoot – a decision he says as “an error in judgment”. Returns home to complete the required isolation. Later, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic says if Djokovic attended events while positive he had “clearly violated the rules”.

December 22

Returns a negative Covid-19 PCR test in Belgrade.

December 25

Having cleared isolation following his negative test, Djokovic is filmed pictured separately with handball player Petar Djordjic in Belgrade.

December 30

Djokovic is granted permission by Tennis Australia to play the Australian Open

December 31

Djokovic is spotted training on hardcourts in Marbella, Spain, in a clue that he’s deep in preparations for the Australian Open.

2022

January 1

Djokovic’s Australian Travel Declaration is completed – by his agent, he later claims. In it, he declares he’s had no travel in the prior 14 days and that he is unvaccinated against Covid-19 but has a medical exemption.

January 4

Reveals on Instagram he has received "exemption permission" to enter Australia.

January 6

Arrives in Melbourne and is sensationally detained and interviewed by border officials, with his visa cancelled.

January 10

Djokovic has a huge win in Federal Court, winning his appeal against deportation with Judge Kelly throwing out Djokovic’s visa cancellation. Later, he enjoys a midnight training session at Rod Laver Arena. Meanwhile, a press conference with Djokovic’s family comes to a sudden end after they refuse to clarify Djokovic’s movements in relation to his December 16 positive result.

January 11

A free man, Djokovic takes to Rod Laver Arena for a closed practice session.

January 12

Djokovic moves to dispel ‘misinformation’ in a lengthy Instagram post as his legal team provides further evidence to support his case – prompting another 24-hour delay in decision-making by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke.

January 14

Djokovic has his visa cancelled for a second time, as Immigration Minister Alex Hawke invoked his discretionary powers. Djokovic launches appeal.

January 16

Djokovic's appeal to Immigration Minister Alex Hawke's decision to cancel the Serbia star's Australian visa is upheld. The world no.1 is deported and leaves the country on a plane to Dubai.

Originally published as Novak Djokovic investigated for international offences over Covid-19, travel law-breaking