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Novak Djokovic Admits To Wrongdoing While Covid-19 Positive And Has Apologised

Novak Djokovic Admits To Wrongdoing While Covid-19 Positive And Has Apologised

The Serbian tennis star has released a statement clearing up rumours about when his test came back positive.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Novak Djokovic has admitted he made a mistake after realising he was positive with coronavirus.

The world number one male tennis player has faced questions about when he knew he had tested positive for the virus.

His legal team confirmed he took a test on December 16 and he was then seen in public the following day.

People are keen to know whether he attended events maskless with the knowledge he was infectious or if he was in the dark.

Novak has now revealed exactly what happened in the middle of last month.

"I attended a basketball game in Belgrade on 14 December after which it was reported that a number of people tested positive with COVID-19," he wrote in a statement uploaded to Instagram.

"Despite having no COVID symptoms, I took a rapid antigen test on 16 December which was negative, and out of an abundance of caution also took an official and approved PCR test on that same day.

"The next day I attended a tennis event in Belgrade to present awards to children and took a rapid antigen test before going to the event, and it was negative.

"I was asymptomatic and felt good, and I had not received the notification of a positive PCR test result until after that event.

"The next day, on 18 December I was at my tennis centre in Belgarde to fulfil a longstanding commitment for a L'Equipe interview and photoshoot. I cancelled all other events except for the L'Equipe interview.

"I felt obliged to go ahead and conduct the L'Equipe interview as I didn't want to let the journalist down, but did ensure I socially distanced and wore a mask except when my photograph was being taken.

"While I went home after the interview to isolate for the required period, on reflection, this was an error of judgement and I accept that I should have rescheduled this commitment."

Novak said he felt the need to make a statement to clear up the confusion around what he did and didn't know about his health at the time.

His brother fanned the flames of the conspiracy after he shut down a press conference when a reporter asked if he attended an event on December 17 while being knowingly positive with Covid-19.

However, he's now clarified that he had no idea until late on December 17 after he had been at different locations in the public.

He added that it was 'human error' that caused him to tick the box that said he hadn't travelled anywhere else before arriving into Australia.

Novak was seen in two countries between leaving his home in Monte Carlo to Australia and he says it was a genuine mistake on his travel declaration.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: News, Novak Djokovic