Djokovic Says He Was 'Poisoned' Before 2022 Australian Open
The Facts
Tennis star Novak Djokovic told GQ in an interview released on Thursday that he was poisoned by food containing high levels of lead and mercury during his detention in Melbourne's Park Hotel in 2022.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was detained for five days ahead of the 2022 Australian Open and deported from Australia due to his unvaccinated status and the country's COVID-19 entry rules.
The Spin
Narrative A
Djokovic's detention and deportation were politically motivated actions that had nothing to do with public health concerns. The food poisoning incident is another example of mistreatment by Australian officials during an unjust detention.
Narrative B
If anything in this saga was politically motivated, it was the decision to let an unvaccinated foreign national enter Australia in contravention of lockdown restrictions. Moreover, Djokovic's allegations of food poisoning lack scientific evidence and seem improbable, given Australia's strict food safety protocols and regulations.
