Novak Djokovic says he was ‘poisoned by lead in his food’ after he was detained over Covid during Australian Open
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NOVAK Djokovic claims he was "poisoned" by food he ate while detained during his 2022 Australian Open visa saga. The 24-time tennis Grand Slam winner had his visa cancelled ahead of the tournament following days of drama over the country's Covid entry rules and his unvaccinated status.
![[Novak Djokovic at an airport, departing after his visa was canceled.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/serbian-tennis-player-novak-djokovic-705501145.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The 37-year-old Serbian was detained in a Melbourne hotel shared with asylum seekers. "I realised that in that hotel in Melbourne I was fed with some food that poisoned me," Djokovic, who is known to monitor his diet strictly, told 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.
![[Novak Djokovic at Melbourne Airport after his visa was canceled.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/serbian-tennis-player-novak-djokovic-962635081.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
"I had the lead, very high level of lead and mercury.". Djokovic went on to describe how he was "very sick" with flu-like symptoms as he then headed back to Europe and an emergency medical team had to treat him multiple times. However, ahead of this year's Open, which kicks off on Sunday, he doesn't hold any grudges.
![[Novak Djokovic playing tennis at a charity event.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/no-archiving-editorial-use-credit-962581830.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
