ジョコ、２２年全豪直前に「毒にあたった」と告白 国外退去騒動の最中

【パリＡＦＰ＝時事】男子テニス、元世界ランキング１位のノバク・ジョコビッチ（セルビア）は９日、２０２２年の全豪オープン開幕直前にオーストラリアから国外退去させられるトラブルに直面した際、一時的に勾留されていたメルボルンのホテルで鉛と水銀が入った食べ物で「毒にあたった」と告白した。（写真は男子テニスのノバク・ジョコビッチ）
　ジョコビッチは新型コロナウイルス感染症（ＣＯＶＩＤ－１９）のワクチン接種を拒否したことを理由に、オーストラリアのビザ（査証）を取り消されて最終的に国外退去処分となった。同国の滞在許可を求めた法廷闘争が無駄な努力に終わるまでの間は、メルボルンのホテルを改装した勾留施設に収容されていた。
　３７歳のジョコビッチは男性誌「ＧＱ」のロングインタビューで当時を振り返り、「健康が阻害された。そして、メルボルンのホテルで食べた物で毒にあたったことに気づいた」「セルビアに戻ったとき、いくつかのことが判明した。この件を公に話したことはなかったが、重金属の数値がかなり高かったと分かった。それは非常に高レベルの鉛と水銀だった」と告白。食事の汚染だと確信しているかと聞かれると、「それが唯一の方法だ」と答えた。
　一方、ＧＱがオーストラリア内務省に問い合わせたところ、「プライバシーを理由に」コメントできないと通達されたとしている。
　２０２２年の論争にもかかわらず、ジョコビッチは「オーストラリアの人々に対して何の恨みも持っていない」と強調。さらに、「ここ数年間、オーストラリアや世界各地で出会った大勢のオーストラリアの人々が、自分が受けた扱いについて謝罪してくれた。彼らは当時の自分たちの政府を恥じていた」「数年前に自分を国外追放した人たちには会ったことがないし、会いたいとは思わない。いつか会うことがあれば、それでも構わない。喜んで握手して前に進むよ」と語った。
　騒動翌年の２０２３年大会を制したジョコビッチは、四大大会（グランドスラム）のシーズン初戦で１２日に開幕する今年の全豪で、自身１１回目の大会制覇と歴代最多通算２５回目のメジャー優勝を目指す。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2025/01/10-18:59）

Novak Djokovic has claimed that he was poisoned by lead and mercury in his food while he was briefly held in Melbourne in 2022 before being deported on the eve of the Australian Open.
The former world number one had his visa cancelled and was eventually kicked out of the country over his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid.
He was held in a detention hotel as he fought a fruitless legal battle to remain.
I had some health issues. And I realised that in that hotel in Melbourne I was fed some food that poisoned me, the 37-year-old Djokovic told GQ magazine in a lengthy interview published Thursday.
I had some discoveries when I came back to Serbia. I never told this to anybody publicly, but discoveries that I had a really high level of heavy metal. I had lead, a very high level of lead and mercury.
When asked if he believed his food was contaminated, the Serb replied: That's the only way.
Djokovic refused to elaborate on Friday in Melbourne when asked if he had any evidence that his high heavy metal blood levels were linked to the food he was given.
But he did not back down from the poisoning allegations.
The GQ article came out yesterday ... I've done that interview many months ago, Djokovic said as he was preparing for a tilt at an 11th Australian Open title and 25th Grand Slam crown.
I would appreciate not talking more in detail about that because I'd like to focus on the tennis and why I am here.
If you want to see what I've said and get more info on that, you can always revert to the article.
A spokesperson for Australia's Department of Home Affairs said it could not comment on individual cases for privacy reasons.
But the government says a lease agreement with the Park Hotel where he was held provides for freshly cooked, individually portioned lunches and dinners for detainees.
- No grudge -
All catering staff have undertaken food safety certifications, it says.
And, as of December 31, 2021, the hotel had been providing samples of the food provided to detainees at each meal to the contractor responsible for detention services.
Australia says detainees had access to a variety of food and drink that was nutritious, culturally appropriate and satisfied specific medical or dietary requirements.
They were also offered breakfast items such as bread, cereal, noodles, tea and coffee at any time of the day or night.
Djokovic insisted that he does not hold any grudge over the Australian people despite the 2022 controversy. A year later, he returned to Melbourne where he swept to the title.
A lot of Australian people that I meet in Australia the last few years or elsewhere in the world, have come up to me, apologising to me for the treatment I received because they were embarrassed by their own government at that point, he said in the GQ article.
And I think the government's changed, and they reinstated my visa, and I was very grateful for that.
I actually love being there, and I think my results are a testament to my sensation of playing tennis and just being in that country.
However, he added: Never met the people that deported me from that country a few years ago. I don't have a desire to meet with them. If I do one day, that's fine as well. I'm happy to shake hands and move on.