Questions have emerged about the validity and timing of the positive Covid test results Novak Djokovic used to attempt to enter Australia before being deported from the country.
The Antivaxx tennis star submitted two documents as evidence of his positive status to a federal court in Australia to circumvent rules banning unvaccinated people from entering the country.
But the serial number on his December 16 test appears higher than that on his second December 22 test, the BBC reports.
The code of the first test also appears to be out of order with a sample of tests conducted in Serbia during the same period, suggesting that they were submitted at a later date.
The application of the world number one was rejected by the Australian authorities, but not with these reasons.
Novak Djokovic, center, wearing a mask, arrives at Municipal House in Budva, Montenegro on Friday, January 28, 2022. Djokovic arrived to receive a plaque declaring him an honorary citizen of the city
Questions have emerged about the validity and timing of the positive Covid test results Novak Djokovic was attempting to use to enter Australia
Documents provided to Australian authorities show Djokovic allegedly first tested positive on December 16 and bears the serial number 7371999
But the second test result, reportedly taken on December 22nd, has a lower serial number of 7320919
Among the documents presented to her federal court was one from the acting director of the official Serbian health authority, which confirmed the dates on the certificates.
The tennis star underwent two tests in his home country and received the results from the Serbian Public Health Institute, each with a unique confirmation code.
Data analyzed by the BBC shows that the verification code on the certificates increases chronologically.
The earlier the test was performed, the lower the serial number.
Djokovic’s documents appear to be the only ones where the second test has a lower serial number than the first.
His December 16 positive test has the code 7371999, while the second document has the number 7320919.
The tennis star, who will be awarded the Honorary Citizenship of the City of Budva today, is under scrutiny for his Covid tests
Djokovic, bottom left, poses with top local official Marko Carevic, bottom centre, and children at the municipal building in Budva today
Adding to the mystery, the code from the first test suggests it was taken at a later date, between December 25th and 28th.
Djokovic’s two tests were conducted in different labs, which means they may have been issued with different confirmation codes.
However, analyzes from other tests performed shortly after Djokovic’s results in the same labs have lower serial numbers.
Tests seen two days and four days after his sample in the lab both have lower confirmation codes, again calling into question the timing of his tests.
In addition, data from eight different Serbian laboratories indicate that there is no discrepancy in serial number consistency between them.
Djordje Krivokapic, a specialist in data and digital security, said: “There is always a chance of a glitch.
“But if that were the case, there would be a simple explanation. I don’t understand why the state authorities wouldn’t just say that.’
The BBC contacted Djokovic, the Serbian health authorities and the Serbian government, but have yet to receive a response.
MailOnline has also contacted Djokovic’s representatives.
The world number one, pictured on his flight to Belgrade after leaving Australia, was expelled from the country ahead of the Open
The allegations come after it was announced yesterday that the tennis star would not return to the court for another month following his rude departure from Australia.
The organizers confirmed his top position in the top-class field of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Thursday.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner had his entry visa for Australia finally canceled on the eve of the Open after a week and a half of extraordinary drama.
Djokovic, who had told officials he was not vaccinated against Covid, believed he was eligible to enter the country and compete after allegedly testing positive for coronavirus in December and making a full recovery.
But Dubai doesn’t have the same strict entry requirements as Australia and he can play in the tournament, which he has previously won five times, if he presents a negative PCR test result on arrival.
The sports star was arrested on arrival at Sydney Airport, had his visa torn up and then taken into migrant custody while the matter lurched between courts and the government.
The 34-year-old was eventually deported when Australia’s immigration minister personally intervened in the dispute, denying him entry and then banning him from the country for three years.
While the government insists that “rules are rules”, the episode led to angry allegations from Serbia that their sports star was chosen for political reasons.
