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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Benjamin Lynch

What has Novak Djokovic said about vaccines? Beliefs about Covid and mind powers unmasked

Tennis player Novak Djokovic faces deportation from Australia once again.

The 20-time grand slam champion will be detained on Saturday ahead of an appeal against his deportation.

A court had initially blocked his deportation after the country's Border Force detained him, but Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke stepped in to reverse this decision.

Djokovic's lawyers have again appealed and the Serb may still be able to play in the Australian Open, pending the result of the appeal.

The situation has arisen due to Australia's strict Covid laws coming into conflict with Djokovic's own views on vaccinations against the virus.

So what are the controversial athlete's health beliefs?

What has Djokovic said about the vaccine?

Novak Djokovic had his visa cancelled for a second time (AFP via Getty Images)

Djokovic, 34, was first denied entry to Melbourne as he is yet to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and did not fit the government's requirements for a medical exemption.

It was then revealed he could be facing more serious punishment and a possible jail sentence for lying on his visa application, as well as attending PR events in December after testing positive for the virus.

In April 2020, Djokovic revealed he was "opposed to vaccination", but also added he was "no expert".

Clarifying, Novak said: "My issue here with vaccines is if someone is forcing me to put something in my body that I don't want."

Multiple peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown the benefits of the Covid-19 vaccine in tackling serious illness and death from the virus.

Djokovic's health beliefs

Djokovic has won the Australian Open nine times ((Photo by John Berry/Getty Images))

The 34-year-old is known for his dedication and fitness within the sport and he puts down some of his success to cutting gluten from his diet.

The change in diet came in 2010 after nutritionist Dr Igor Cetojevic put a piece of white bread in his left hand, while the doctor pressed down on his right. Djokovic reported he felt "noticeably weaker".

During an Instagram Live, Djokovic also claimed he could cleanse polluted water with his mind.

He said: "I know some people that through that energetical transformation, through the power of prayer, through the power of gratitude, they managed to turn the most toxic food or maybe most polluted water into the most healing water, because water reacts … molecules in the water react to our emotions, to what is being said."

Meanwhile, business studies graduate and former model wife Jelena has also indicated some quirky, and completely unfounded, beliefs about 5G technology.

She shared a debunked video on Instagram that claimed 5G caused coronavirus. Later, she said she did not claim the baseless theory "to be true or not".

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