Novak Djokovic admitted on Wednesday that he made “mistakes” in his behavior following testing positive for COVID-19 in December and filling out his entry form to Australia, while his participation in the Australian Open is still outstanding.
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On Instagram, the world tennis number one, unvaccinated, said his team had provided additional information to Australian authorities, who are considering revoking his visa and deporting him.
“We are living in difficult times in the context of a global pandemic and sometimes mistakes occur,” pleaded the Serbian, who is currently training for the first Grand Slam of the year, from Monday.
The 34-year-old arrived in Melbourne on January 5, claiming an exemption from COVID-19 vaccination due to a positive test dated December 16.
He explains that he had made a negative antigen test and then a PCR test that day, because he had attended a basketball game the day before in Belgrade (Serbia) with several people who then tested positive.
On December 16, the player with twenty Grand Slam titles also attended the launch of a stamp with his effigy in Serbia, an event he does not talk regarding on Instagram.
Then he participated in a meeting with young tennis players on December 17 in Belgrade. Photos published by the Serbian Federation show him with officials and around 20 teenagers, all without a mask.
“Djoko” assures to have carried out, before this meeting, a second antigenic test, also negative.
Claiming to be a victim of “misinformation” that he considers “very hurtful” for his family, Djokovic explains that he had “no symptoms, (was) felt
On the other hand, he recognizes an “error of judgment”, that of having received, knowing that he was asymptomatic, the French daily L’Équipe for an interview.
“I felt obligated (…), because I did not want to let down the journalist, but I made sure to respect social distancing and to wear a mask, except when my portrait was carried out”, he said. he explains.
“On second thought, this was an error in judgment and I agree that I should have postponed this engagement.”
“The instructions had been clear: no question regarding the vaccination and the intentions of the Serbian for his presence for the next Australian Open,” said the journalist from L’Équipe in the columns of the daily Tuesday. “So we didn’t ask him if he had thought regarding getting tested. And if so, for what result. “
During the 30-minute interview, “we were both protected, facing each other at almost a meter distance,” added Franck Ramella. “Asked (…) to remove his mask for five minutes during the discussion, Djokovic refuses.”
The one nicknamed the “Djoker” also pleads “human error” for having ticked the wrong box in his entry form in Australia.
This document, widely circulated by the Australian media, shows that he testified that he had not traveled in the 14 days preceding his arrival. However, during these two weeks, he was in Serbia and then in Spain.
This statement “was submitted by my team on my behalf,” Djokovic wrote on Instagram. “My agent sincerely apologizes for this administrative error made by checking the wrong box.”
“It was human error and certainly not deliberate.”
The player’s participation in the Australian Open remains unresolved.
Turned back on arrival at Melbourne airport following his visa was canceled, he was placed in a detention center for deportation, but a judge ruled in his favor on January 10 and ordered his immediate release .
Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, however, said on Tuesday he was considering revoking his visa once more using his discretionary powers.
According to lawyer Christopher Levingston, an expert on immigration issues in Australia, the government has the option of rescinding it once more on the grounds that a criminal offense has been committed, for example by making a false entry declaration.
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