Tennis star Novak Djokovic has admitted there were mistakes on his immigration forms and to meeting a journalist.
Djokovic made the admissions in an Instagram post to clarify “ongoing misinformation” about his movements.
The men’s tennis number one is hoping to play in the Australian Open next week. But his participation has been overshadowed by a row over his visa.
Djokovic, who is unvaccinated, had his visa revoked on 6 January shortly after arriving in Australia and questions over the vaccine exemption that would have permitted him to enter. On Monday, however, a judge dramatically overturned the decision and ordered the release of the player from detention
Government Action
But the government has not ruled out further action – and the possibility remains that the country’s immigration minister could cancel his visa for a second time just days before the tournament begins.
The journalist, Franck Ramella, said that he had been told not to ask tennis star Djokovic about his vaccination status or the upcoming Australian Open so he “therefore did not ask if he had considered.
Djokovic Declaration
Djokovic also admitted making a false declaration on his travel form prior to entering Australia and said his team has provided additional information to authorities.
He said his agent had made a mistake when filling in a section of the form that covered his recent travel history. The form stated that he had not traveled in the 14 days before his arrival in Australia.
But recent reports suggest the 34-year-old had traveled to Serbia and then to Spain prior to the trip.
“My agent sincerely apologies for the administrative mistake in ticking the incorrect box,” he wrote. “This was a human error and certainly not deliberate.”
He wrote on Instagram “that he had taken a PCR test on 16 December after attending a basketball match two days before, where a number of people later tested positive.
Djokovic said that he had taken a rapid antigen test before attending both events and was only notified that his PCR was positive after attending the awards ceremony on 17 December.