Two journalists working for French sports newspaper L’Equipe were not told Novak Djokovic was Covid-positive before, during or after a 33-minute interview with the tennis star in Belgrade on December 18, the outlet reported Wednesday.
Journalists Franck Ramella and photographer Etienne Garnier reported that Djokovic seemed “well,” despite it later emerging he had been diagnosed with Covid-19 two days prior.
Separately on Wednesday, Djokovic acknowledged he knew of the positive diagnosis at the time of the interview and apologized.
The L’Equipe article states Ramella has since tested negative to Covid-19, but it does not mention Garnier’s health.
Ramella told CNN he was en route to Melbourne to cover the Australian Open.
Djokovic, who is unvaccinated, is currently fighting to be allowed into Australia to compete in the tournament.
He applied for an exemption from Australian rules mandating that arrivals must be fully-vaccinated against Covid-19, using a positive test result on December 16 as evidence that he should be allowed into the country. Photos posted on social media show him unmasked at events in mid-December,
While Djokovic admitted Wednesday that he did not immediately isolate after testing positive for Covid-19, he denied knowing he had the virus when attending public events.
The French journalists’ interview with Djokovic was conducted in Belgrade at the player’s Novak Center, L’Equipe reported.
“As we waited for about 90 minutes, the (masked) staff offered us an excellent assortment of sliced fruit. At last Djokovic arrived, all smiles, masked as well,” a CNN translation of the French language article reads.
It is unclear whether staff at the Novak Center knew of Djokovic’s positive diagnosis.
The article acknowledged that Djokovic kept his mask on for the duration of the indoor interview, but took it off when asked to pose for a professional photo without it.
“For thirty-three minutes, according to the timer…
Source : cnn
