Probe Raises Questions About Novak Djokovic's Positive COVID Test Before Australian Open

Controversial Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic was feted in Montenegro  on Friday after an investigation raised serious suspicions about a certificate claiming he had earlier contracted and then recovered from COVID, which he used to obtain a visa to enter Australia to compete.

Djokovic, 34, triggered an uproar when he entered the country without a COVID-19 vaccination to compete in the Australian Open in early January. He had obtained a vaccination exemption by submitting evidence of testing positive for COVID in mid-December, which presumably would have provided some immunity to him and protection to others.

He refused to be vaccinated and was eventually deported before he could compete  after the Australian government revoked his visa, citing public interest grounds.

The BBC reported on Thursday that its investigation found that the serial numbers of the COVID tests Djokovic’s legal team said were administered before his Australia trip were out of order , suggesting possible irregularities . The serial numbers are supposed to be chronological, according to the BBC.

Neither Serbian officials nor Djokovic or his team responded to the BBC report by late Friday.

He was cheered Friday by hundreds in Montenegro, which borders Serbia, as he was awarded honorary citizenship in the Adriatic town of Budva.

Check out the BBC’s story in the video up top.