Novak Djokovic admits to false travel declaration to Australian authorities, blames agent

Novak Djokovic claimed his agent ticked the incorrect box about his travel history. "This was a human error and certainly not deliberate,” the tennis player said.

Tennis star Novak Djokovic on Wednesday admitted to a mistake in his declaration of travel history to the Australia authorities, amid a controversy over his presence in the country.

Djokovic’s entry form to Australia said that he did not travel in the two weeks before landing in the country on January 6. However, some reports indicated that he had been in Serbia and then Spain before his trip to Australia.

The world number one tennis player blamed the mistake on his agent. In a statement on Instagram, Djokovic claimed his agent ticked the incorrect box about his travel history. "This was a human error and certainly not deliberate,” the tennis player said.

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Djokovic added that in challenging times of the coronavirus pandemic, mistakes can occur. “Today my team has provided additional information to the Australian government to clarify the matter,” he added.

The tennis star also sought to dispel what he claimed was misinformation about his public appearances reportedly after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Djokovic said that he attended a basketball game in Belgrade on December 14. After the event, he came to know that several participants had tested positive for the coronavirus.

The tennis star said he took two tests – one rapid antigen and an approved PCR on December 16.

His rapid antigen test came back negative but PCR was awaited. On December 17, he attended a youth tennis event in Belgrade. Djokovic said his positive PCR results came only after the event.

But Djokovic admitted to meeting a journalist for an interview on December 18, despite knowing that he had COVID-19.

"I felt obliged to go ahead and conduct the L'Equipe 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 being taken," the tennis star said. "On reflection, this was an error of judgement and I accept that I should have rescheduled this commitment."

The tennis star is at the centre of a controversy surrounding vaccination rules in Australia.

Australian authorities said Djokovic did not meet their COVID-19 vaccination requirements, and hence, could not enter the country for the Australian Open scheduled to begin on January 17.

To enter Australia, foreigners must be fully-vaccinated. Limited exemptions are allowed.

The tennis star said that he had tested positive for the coronavirus in December and was eligible for a vaccination waiver. But the Australian authorities said he had failed to provide proper evidence to seek medical exemption. The tennis star was sent to an immigration hotel and his visa was cancelled on January 6.

But on Monday, a court in Australia ordered the end of his detention and overturned the cancellation of his visa.

(With inputs from AFP)