PCR tests “are authentic”
Prosecutors are helping Djokovic
02/03/2022, 08:50 am
Novak Djokovic is experiencing a difficult January: The world number one misses the first Grand Slam tournament of the year after a long legal struggle – and has to watch his rival achieve a big goal in front of him. After all, a criminal complaint in connection with his PCR tests comes to nothing.
The Serbian public prosecutor’s office has rejected an allegation that tennis world number one Novak Djokovic used false PCR tests for the corona virus to enter Australia. The results of the tests are authentic, according to a statement from the authority. “It has been established that Novak Djokovic has been tested multiple times and that the certificates of test results dated 12/16/2021 and 12/22/2021 are valid.” A few days ago, a criminal complaint was filed against unknown persons in connection with Djokovic’s tests.
Djokovic, who was not vaccinated against Covid-19, had tried to take part in the Australian Open with an exemption. He said he had recovered from an infection, citing a positive test December 16 and a negative certificate six days later. There are doubts about that. The “Spiegel” wrote that the positive corona test that Djokovic presented when he entered the country and which was the reason for the exemption could possibly have been carried out on another day. According to this, the positive test presented by Djokovic’s lawyers should be dated later in a Serbian database and not from December 16 – as Djokovic claimed.
Djokovic himself issued a statement in mid-January during ongoing investigations into the status of his entry permit, acknowledging an “unintentional” error in his travel documents and in his behavior following the alleged coronavirus infection. This includes the fact that in December between the two tests he had completed an interview despite knowing that his PCR test was positive. “Although I went home after the interview and went into isolation for the prescribed length of time, on reflection that was a miscalculation and I recognize that I should have postponed that commitment.”
Ultimately, his visa was annulled. The tennis star finally had to leave shortly before the start of the tournament. Strict corona rules apply in Australia. In principle, only fully protected people are allowed to enter. At the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, Djokovic had to watch Rafael Nadal of all people win the title – and set himself apart again with the 21st victory in one of the four majors in the struggle for the historic record. Djokovic currently has 20 Grand Slam titles. Being the first to reach “21” was one of the declared goals of the Serb, who still has to worry about participating in the three other Grand Slam tournaments in Paris, Wimbledon and New York if he doesn’t reconsider his vaccination decision.