sport news MIKE DICKSON: Novak Djokovic's weasel words cut no ice with his situation ...

The paws of crisis management PR experts were all over the statement released by Novak Djokovic on Wednesday.

As the world No 1 awaited his fate at the hands of Australia's immigration minister, he offered his first stab at answering a few of the many questions surrounding his conduct.

While Djokovic's lawyers submitted private evidence to the authorities to explain his erroneous travel declaration, the player publicly pleaded his case in a carefully curated statement.

The weasely term 'error of judgment' was employed, by whoever wrote it, and three times there was reference to correcting 'misinformation', although little was offered to contradict what has already been reported about Djokovic's movements.

Whatever the outcome of the delayed decision on whether the 34-year-old can stay on to defend his Australian Open title, expect plenty of reputation management from him going forward. He has much rebuilding to do, because so much of what we have heard has stretched credibility above and beyond its limits.

On Wednesday, for example, we were asked to believe Djokovic's version of what happened around the positive PCR test that he previously said was taken on December 16, with the result registered at 8pm that evening.

He maintains that he did not find out he had caught Covid until after fulfilling a children's charity commitment the following day.

Aside from considerations about those he would be mixing with, it seems distinctly odd that someone so obsessive about their health would employ such a relaxed attitude about the result. 

Especially as Djokovic had been at a basketball match two days earlier at which others had tested positive. Surprising, too, that someone of his importance was not notified sooner.

Then came the 'error of judgment' on December 18, when Djokovic attended a photoshoot and interview with visiting representatives of the L'Equipe sports publication which had given him an award.