Sport3 min(s) read
Published 11:32 12 Jan 2022 GMT
Novak Djokovic has opened up about his Covid testing fiasco, admitting to attending an event with children while he had the virus.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, the world No. 1 tennis star claims he didn't know he was infected until after the event.
His statement comes amid renewed allegations against the Serbian athlete that could see Australian government officials canceling his visa just days after they allowed it.
Djokovic has been under intense media scrutiny since last week when border officials at Melbourne airport declared his visa invalid and refused him entry to the country, where he had been intending to defend his title in the Australian Open.
The 34-year-old star has not been vaccinated against Covid, but believed that he would be allowed into Australia due to having proof of recent covid infection in mid-December which made him exempt from the vaccination requirements.
After being held in a notorious immigration detention hotel over the weekend, Djokovic was released on Monday when a judge agreed that his exemption was indeed valid. His visa was reinstated and he was given the green light to compete in the Open, which starts on January 17.
However, the athlete faced renewed attention when reports began circulating that he had attended a children's sporting event and been interviewed in-person by the French newspaper L'Équipe - all while knowing he was positive with the virus.
In his lengthy social media statement, Djokovic hit out at what he called "continuing misinformation about my activities" which "needs to be corrected".
He then admits to attending several events in December, including a tennis event in Belgrade on December 17 at which he presented awards to children.
However, the star claims that he did not know he had Covid until afterward, saying he "took a rapid antigen test before going to the event, and it was negative.
"I was asymptomatic and felt good, and I had not received the notification of a positive PCR test until after that event."
It is not clear from the statement when exactly Djokovic got the news of his positive PCR test; however, he does say that on December 18 he canceled all of his appointments aside from a "long-standing commitment for a L'Équipe interview and photoshoot."
He goes on to explain why he did the interview despite knowingly having covid, saying: "I felt obliged to go ahead and conduct the L'Équipe interview as I didn't want to let the journalist down, but did ensure I socially distanced and wore a mask except when my photograph was taken."
The tennis pro then admits that "on reflection, this was an error of judgment and I accept that I should have rescheduled this commitment."
As well as infringing isolation rules, Djokovic also admits to an administrative error on the travel documents his team submitted to the Australian government prior to his arrival.
"My agent sincerely apologizes for the administrative mistake in ticking the incorrect box about my previous travel before coming to Australia," he said, adding "This was a human error and certainly not deliberate."
Although the tennis player's team has submitted new information to the Australian government to help clarify the matter, it may not be enough to keep Djokovic in the country.
MailOnline reports that Immigration Minister Alex Hawke says he is considering canceling his visa for a second time, though no official decision has been reached yet.
