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Experts have expressed skepticism about Novak Djokovic's claim that he was "poisoned" by food during his immigration detention in Melbourne in 2022. The Serbian tennis star, who was detained at the Park Hotel during his visa cancellation saga, alleged in a recent GQ magazine interview that he consumed food with dangerously high levels of heavy metals, including lead and mercury. However, scientists say this scenario is "very unlikely."
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, was deported from Australia in 2022 after his visa was canceled due to his unvaccinated status. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke at the time argued Djokovic's presence could undermine public health measures. Djokovic spent five days in detention before leaving the country following a failed court appeal.
This week, Djokovic told the Herald Sun that he still feels traumatized by the experience and was stressed upon returning to Melbourne for the 2025 Australian Open. "In that hotel, I was fed food that poisoned me," he claimed, adding that tests conducted in Serbia later revealed high levels of lead and mercury in his system.
Experts, however, doubt the claim. Damian Maganja, a food policy expert at the George Institute for Global Health, called it a "wild accusation," stating that it is improbable given the scale of meal production and lack of similar complaints. Dr. Barbara Cardoso, a nutritional biochemist at Monash University, noted that Australians are generally exposed to low levels of lead and mercury. She added that foods with high mercury levels, such as fish and shellfish, are not consistent with Djokovic's vegan diet.
Dr. Catharine Fleming of Western Sydney University explained that without clinical evidence, it is difficult to link Djokovic's alleged heavy metal exposure to food consumed during detention. However, she acknowledged that studies during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted poor-quality food provisions in Australian quarantine facilities.
The Park Hotel, where Djokovic was detained, has previously drawn criticism for its conditions, with asylum seekers reportedly served food infested with maggots.
Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios has weighed in, describing Djokovic's treatment as unfair. "We treated him like shit," Kyrgios said.
When asked about his allegations on Friday, Djokovic declined to elaborate, stating, "I would appreciate not talking more in detail about that, as I'd like to focus on tennis."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also declined to comment on Djokovic's claims but wished him success at the Australian Open.
