Novak Djokovic has blamed his agent for an “administrative mistake” when declaring he had not travelled within the two weeks earlier than his flight to Australia and acknowledged an “error of judgment” by not isolating after he examined constructive for Covid.
The world No 1 launched a press release on Wednesday in a bid to handle what he known as “persevering with misinformation” about his actions in December earlier than he got here to Australia in a bid to retain his Australian Open crown.
However Djokovic’s assertion, posted to Instagram, didn't deal with stories by Der Spiegel claiming obvious anomalies together with his 16 December PCR check end result. The reporting has raised questions in regards to the constructive Covid analysis that types the premise of his exemption to journey to Australia.
Wednesday’s assertion claims he wasn’t notified of his constructive end result till 17 December regardless of Djokovic’s affidavit to the federal circuit courtroom that he was each “examined and recognized” on 16 December.
Australia’s immigration minister, Alex Hawke, has confirmed he's nonetheless contemplating re-cancelling Djokovic’s visa, citing “prolonged additional submissions and supporting documentation” from the participant’s legal professionals as the reason for delay.
Djokovic had his visa restored by the federal circuit courtroom on Monday however his capability to remain in Australia was put unsure by the ministerial assessment.
On Tuesday, it was revealed the Australian Border Power was investigating his pre-flight declaration after photos emerged suggesting he was in Belgrade lower than two weeks earlier than his flight from Spain to Australia on 4 January.
On Wednesday, Djokovic stated he wished to right “misinformation … within the curiosity of assuaging broader concern in the neighborhood about my presence in Australia”.
“I need to emphasise that I've tried very arduous to make sure the security of everybody and my compliance with testing obligations,” he stated.
“I attended a basketball recreation in Belgrade on 14 December after which it was reported that quite a lot of individuals examined constructive with Covid-19.
“Regardless of having no Covid signs, I took a speedy antigen check on 16 December which was detrimental, and out of an abundance of warning, additionally took an official and permitted PCR check on that very same day.”
Djokovic stated on 17 December he attended a tennis occasion in Belgrade to current awards to youngsters, after testing detrimental once more on a speedy check. “I used to be asymptomatic and felt good, and I had not obtained the notification of a constructive PCR check end result till after that occasion.”
Djokovic stated after receiving the constructive end result he however attended his tennis centre in Belgrade on 18 December to uphold a “longstanding dedication for a L’Equipe interview” as a result of he “felt obliged” to and “didn’t need to let the journalist down”. Djokovic says he socially distanced and wore a masks besides whereas images had been taken.
“Whereas I went house after the interview to isolate for the required interval, on reflection, this was an error of judgment and I settle for that I ought to have rescheduled this dedication.”
Djokovic stated the wrong pre-travel declaration of 1 January was “submitted by my assist group on my behalf”.
“My agent sincerely apologises for the executive mistake in ticking the wrong field about my earlier journey earlier than coming to Australia. This was a human error and definitely not deliberate.”
Djokovic stated he has “supplied extra data to the Australian authorities to make clear this matter” however wouldn't be making additional remark “out of the utmost respect for the Australian authorities and their authorities and present course of”.
Djokovic didn't deal with the Der Spiegel report which claimed the QR code for his 16 December PCR check confirmed a detrimental end result after they scanned it earlier this week earlier than subsequently giving a constructive end result.
It additionally claimed to have uncovered anomalies between the paper model of the PCR check end result proven to be constructive and the digital model of it as introduced by the tennis participant’s legal professionals.
The paper model reportedly means that the alleged constructive check end result will not be from 16 December however – in keeping with the time stamped on it – from 26 December. Spiegel acknowledged the timestamp may additionally mirror when the end result was downloaded by the examined particular person.
In keeping with findings by the IT analysis group Zerforschung, and shared with Spiegel, the constructive check from 16 December had the Serb testing system quantity 7371999. Djokovic’s detrimental check end result, carried out on 22 December, reportedly had an identification quantity that was about 50,000 positions decrease.
The Zerforschung researchers have informed Spiegel they've affirmation that the check ID numbers rise, relatively than fall, elevating questions that the check allegedly from 22 December was carried out previous to the check allegedly from 16 December.
Spiegel put inquiries to each Djokovic and Serbian well being authorities however by Tuesday night had but to obtain a response. The Guardian has additionally contacted Djokovic for remark.
A spokesperson for the Australian immigration minister, Alex Hawke, stated he was nonetheless contemplating use of his private energy to cancel Djokovic’s visa.
“Mr Djokovic’s legal professionals have not too long ago supplied prolonged additional submissions and supporting documentation stated to be related to the doable cancellation of Mr Djokovic’s visa,” he stated on Wednesday. “Naturally, this can have an effect on the timeframe for a call.”
Across the similar time that Djokovic’s assertion was launched, the world No 1 continued his event preparations by holding his first open coaching session on Rod Laver Enviornment with Tristan Schoolkate, a younger Australian participant.
Djokovic’s first two practices since his launch from detention had been held in non-public with the doorways of Rod Laver Enviornment locked and the courtroom’s stay feed turned off on Tuesday.
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