A French reporter who interviewed Novak DJokovic without knowing the tennis star had tested positive to Covid-19 was told not to ask if he was vaccinated.
Djokovic said he tested positive to the virus on December 16, but on December 18 he sat down with Franck Ramella, from French publication L’Equipe.
‘The instructions were clear – no questions about vaccination,’ Ramella said.
‘So we didn’t ask him if he had made efforts to get tested. If we had asked him, what would have been the point?’
A French reporter who interviewed Novak DJokovic without knowing the tennis star had tested positive to Covid-19 was told not to ask if he was vaccinated
The reporter said Djokovic refused to remove his mask when asked by the photographer but did later take it off for a photo.
Ramella, who has tested negative to fly to Victoria for the Australian Open only found out Djokovic was positive until he was detained at Melbourne Airport last week.
‘Both of us were protected, opposite each other at a distance of about one metre on either side of a long rectangular table,’ the journalist said.
The International Tennis Writers Association said Djokovic not disclosing his positive result was ‘deeply concerning’.
‘The news that Novak Djokovic did not tell one of our members — and the rest of the L’Equipe team on the day — that he had tested positive for Covid-19 is deeply concerning,’ an ITWA statement said on Thursday.
‘As journalists, we take great care to adhere to all Covid-19 rules in place, and we would expect all players to do the same.’
The International Tennis Writers Association said Djokovic not disclosing his positive result was ‘deeply concerning’
Addressing the matter, Djokovic in an Instagram post on Wednesday admitted he made an ‘error in judgement’ and had cancelled all other events except for his 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,’ Djokovic said.
‘On reflection, this was an error of judgment and I accept that I should have rescheduled this commitment.’
Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said those who test positive must isolate, adding the world No.1’s behaviour would be a ‘clear breach’ of the rules.
It comes as the Australian government is expected to make an announcement on Thursday as to whether Djokovic can stay in the country after vaccination exemption was denied and his visa cancelled.
More to come
