Novak Djokovic: Why Australian specialists aren’t shopping for the tennis star’s poison claims

Consultants imagine Novak Djokovic’s declare of being served ‘poisoned’ meals at a Melbourne lodge throughout his 2022 detention is ‘most unlikely’; nevertheless, they haven’t dominated out the likelihood completely. Djokovic was detained at a lodge in Melbourne previous to the Australian Open in 2022 earlier than being deported
as his visa was cancelled over him being ineligible to go to the nation whereas being unvaccinated for COVID-19.

Djokovic stayed at Park Lodge in Melbourne for 5 days throughout his detention as his enchantment in opposition to deportation fell flat within the court docket. In a latest interview, the 24-time Grand Slam winner revealed that he was given “some meals” on the lodge
which “poisoned” him with “excessive stage of lead and mercury”.

“I spotted that in that lodge in Melbourne I used to be fed with some meals that poisoned me,” Djokovic informed GQ journal in an interview that was launched on Thursday.

“I had some discoveries after I got here again to Serbia. I by no means informed this to anyone publicly, however discoveries that I used to be, I had a extremely excessive stage of heavy steel. Heavy steel. I had the lead, very excessive stage of lead and mercury.”

Consultants query Djokovic’s declare

The 37-year-old Serbian’s claims, nevertheless, have been questioned by Australian specialists.

“It’s doable … however most unlikely given how lengthy he was locked up, whereas these meals have been in all probability made in mass quantities and there haven’t been different stories so far as I do know,” Damian Maganja, a analysis fellow in meals coverage on the George Institute for International Well being, informed the Guardian.

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Dr Barbara Cardoso, a dietary biochemist at Monash College, informed the Guardian that whereas mercury focus is present in fish and shellfish, it’s “unlikely to trigger a poisoning”. Apart from, it’s additionally vital to notice that Djokovic has already claimed that he consumes vegan meals.

“Mercury will be current in meals, however the meals with the very best mercury focus are fish and shellfish,” Cardoso stated. “The focus in fish and shellfish present in Australia is comparatively low. It requires time for that mercury to build up within the physique to trigger poisoning.

“The meals that individuals … who stay in Melbourne and devour domestically which will have been harvested right here or offered at native grocery shops is unlikely to trigger a poisoning.”

Djokovic refused to speak about ‘poisoning’ claims

Djokovic was questioned about his claims on Friday in Melbourne forward of the 2025 Australian Open, however the Serbian didn’t entertain the request.

“Look, the GQ article got here out on-line yesterday, and I believe it’s a February difficulty, so it’s popping out in print model,” he stated.

“I’ve finished that interview many months in the past, so I might respect not speaking extra intimately about that, as I want to deal with the tennis and why I’m right here. If you wish to see what I’ve stated and get extra information on that, you’ll be able to all the time revert to the article.”