More doubts have emerged over the exact date of the positive COVID-19 test that Novak Djokovic used in his attempt to acquire a vaccination exemption prior to the Australian Open.
Djokovic’s team provided two PCR test results to Australian authorities, with one showing a positive result from December 16, and the other showing a negative result from December 22.
However, according to a BBC report, the serial numbers from the two tests indicate that Djokovic’s positive test result may have occurred more than a week later than the date states.
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Djokovic’s test was conducted in Serbia, with the results provided by the Institute of Public Health of Serbia. Each result certificate comes with a unique serial number.
A study conducted by the BBC on 21 PCR test certificates showed that all serial numbers appeared to be in chronological order, aside from Djokovic’s positive test from December 16.
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According to the report, the serial number of Djokovic’s positive test certificate from December 16 (7371999) suggests that it took place between December 25 and December 28, given Djokovic’s serial number falls in between the serial numbers of a test certificate acquired from Christmas Day (7366969) and one from December 28 (7415312).
After his unceremonious exit from Melbourne on the eve of this year’s Australian Open, Djokovic is reportedly set to return to the court in late February.
The world No.1 has reportedly put his name down to play at next month’s ATP Dubai tournament, after a leak of the entry list four the tournament showed him as the top seed for the event which runs from February 21-26.