Novak Djokovic medical exemption saga hit by conspiracy theorists questioning validity of QR codes

If Novak Djokovic thought he had a tough time in interrogation he now has every aspect of his controversial covid diagnosis being analysed by the world. And the findings could prove devastating.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic takes part in a training session in Melbourne

A bizarre furore erupted amid a QR code conspiracy over Novak Djokovic’s Covid-19 positive test result that allowed him into Australia.

Internet sleuths across the globe scanned the digital certificate of the tennis star’s PCR tests — published by the Federal Circuit Court — and claimed to have received different responses.

The tests, from the Institute of Public Health of Serbia, were the basis for his exemption granted by independent panels with Tennis Australia and the Victorian Government.

Documents read that Djokovic tested positive to the virus from a sample on December 16 and negative on December 22.

But QR codes that matched to the PRC tests gave some people conflicting results.

US tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg said he’d received “a mix of positive/negative results from this same QR code now” over Djokovic’s December 16 test.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic takes part in a training session in Melbourne

“I don’t know what to make of it beyond it being bizarre,” he wrote online on Tuesday.

German magazine Der Spiegel also scanned the December 16 test on Monday and said it returned a negative test.

But the same QR code was scanned just over an hour later and returned a different result: “Test result positive.”

A dozen Herald Sun staff also scanned the codes, which returned a positive result on December 16 and a negative test on December 22 for every check.

Meanwhile, a claim by Der Spiegel questioning whether Djokovic’s positive test came days after he returned a negative result was quickly debunked.

Folks, it gets fishier.

Djokovic’s presented positive Covid test from December 16 (confirmation code 7371999-259039) comes with a QR code on it.

When you scan that QR code (and you can try yourself), it takes you to a website showing that test was *negative*, not positive.

🤷 pic.twitter.com/Ivu1vdsgOO

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 10, 2022

IT experts suggested the URL link to his digital certificate showed his Covid-19 diagnosis came 50,000 tests after he was negative.

But data journalists later said the numbers in the URL they based the claim from actually showed the time the link was opened, not when the test results were uploaded.

The QR code and subsequent results are not the only aspect of the Djokovic timeline being questioned.

Now let's move on to sports: the whole world is talking about the test certificates of a tennis player right now. #Djokovic

🧵 Thread 🧵

— zerforschung (@zerforschung) January 11, 2022

SPIEGEL reporters scanned the QR code belonging to #Djokovic’ PCR test. On Monday at 1.19pm German time it said „Test result Negative“. An hour later, after another scan, it said „Test result Positive.“ Story in German @derspiegel@meynj@Peter_Ahrens 👇https://t.co/76oT2k4000pic.twitter.com/fJUM4fcGjr

— Steffen Lüdke (@stluedke) January 10, 2022

There is substantial evidence suggesting the world No 1 was out in public knowing he was Covid positive.

If in fact he tested positive on December 16, Djokovic was pictured at a plethora of events in the days which followed.

The Djokovic family called an abrupt end to a press conference this week when questioned about images of their son at public events - including some with children.

His mother, Dijana, claimed on Wednesday morning that Djokovic potentially “didn’t know” that he had tested positive, despite rules that dictate to isolate until a test result is received.

‘LYING SNEAKY ASSHOLE’

A leaked video of Channel Seven news hosts Rebecca Maddern and Mike Amor slamming Djokovic in a private conversation went viral overnight.

The video shows Maddern saying: “Whatever way you look at it, Novak Djokovic is a lying, sneaking arsehole.”

Amor agreed that Djokovic was “an arsehole” who lied as a means of securing entry into Australia.

“You’ve got a bulls--- f--king excuse and then he fell over his own f--king lies. That’s what happens right?,” Amor said.

The news anchors conceded that despite the controversy surrounding Djokovic, he had been let down by authorities and those around him.

“It is unfortunate that everyone stuffed up around him,” Maddern said.

“I don’t think anything was gained by putting him in immigration hotels.”

Maddern said that while most “fair minded people would say the bloke is an arsehole”, the public would question whether authorities “had done the right thing” by him.

The pair believe that despite Immigration Minister Alex Hawke assuring the “matter and process remains ongoing”, the unvaccinated player will ultimately prevail and will be able to compete in the Australian Open.

“I think he is going to get away with it,” Amor said.

“Life is never fair, some people fly first class … it is never fair,” Maddern added.

Originally published as Novak Djokovic medical exemption saga hit by conspiracy theorists questioning validity of QR codes