Experts have questioned Novak Djokovic’s recent claim that he was poisoned by food during his detention in Melbourne ahead of the 2022 Australian Open, with some suggesting that while it’s possible, it remains highly unlikely.
In a series of interviews leading up to the 2025 Australian Open, the Serbian tennis star revisited the events of his controversial visa saga in 2022, in which his visa was initially canceled due to his unvaccinated status, sparking a global debate. Djokovic was detained at the Park Hotel in Melbourne for five days before ultimately being deported after an unsuccessful court appeal.
During an interview with GQ magazine released Thursday, Djokovic spoke about lingering trauma from the detention, recalling that the food he ate during his time in the hotel may have contributed to a poisoning incident. “I realized that in that hotel in Melbourne, I was fed with some food that poisoned me,” Djokovic told the publication. He also revealed that upon returning to Serbia, he discovered elevated levels of lead and mercury in his system, suggesting potential heavy metal poisoning.
“I had a really high level of heavy metal—lead and mercury,” Djokovic claimed, adding that this information was something he had not shared publicly before.
Experts Weigh In
Experts have expressed skepticism about the claim. Damian Maganja, a food policy research fellow at the George Institute for Global Health, described Djokovic’s accusations as a “wild” suggestion. He noted that while poisoning is theoretically possible, given the mass production of meals for detainees, such a scenario is highly improbable. “There haven’t been other reports of food poisoning from the Park Hotel, as far as I know,” Maganja stated.
Dr. Barbara Cardoso, a nutritional biochemist at Monash University, further explained that Australia’s rigorous safety standards and low exposure to toxic metals made such a poisoning unlikely. “Mercury can be present in food, but it’s mostly found in fish and shellfish,” she said. “Australia has relatively low concentrations of these metals in locally sourced foods, and it requires significant time for mercury to accumulate to dangerous levels.”
Djokovic, a vegan, would have a diet less likely to contain high levels of mercury, which is typically concentrated in seafood. “The food most people in Melbourne consume from local sources would not likely cause poisoning,” Cardoso added.
Food Quality Concerns at the Park Hotel
While experts dispute the likelihood of poisoning from the food served, concerns have been raised about the quality of meals provided to detainees at the Park Hotel, which was used as an alternative detention facility for non-citizens and asylum seekers. Reports surfaced of poor food quality, with some detainees alleging the presence of maggots in their meals. Dr. Catharine Fleming, a senior lecturer in public health at Western Sydney University, noted that the food provision for quarantined individuals was often substandard during the pandemic.
“We completed a study focused on the food provided to families in quarantine during COVID, and the provision was incredibly poorly done, with ad hoc meals and poor quality,” Fleming said.
Kyrgios and Public Reaction
Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios, who previously spoke out in support of Djokovic’s treatment during the visa saga, weighed in on the issue following Djokovic’s comments. Although Kyrgios was unaware of Djokovic’s specific claim of poisoning, he criticized how his home country handled the situation. “We treated him like shit, that’s for sure. We shouldn’t have done that,” Kyrgios said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, when asked about Djokovic’s recent remarks, declined to comment directly. “I’m not going to respond to comments that I haven’t seen,” Albanese said, expressing well wishes to Djokovic ahead of the Australian Open.
Djokovic’s comments have reignited discussions about the events that led to his deportation in January 2022, with some continuing to support him while others question the validity of his claims. As the 2025 Australian Open approaches, the saga remains a topic of public debate.
