Novak Djokovic could face prison time in his native Serbia if he is found to have breached the country's COVID-19 regulations after his positive test.
The tennis superstar is currently embroiled in controversy in Australia after initially having his visa cancelled by immigration authorities for being unvaccinated, before having it reinstated following a court hearing.
Djokovic claims he tested positive for COVID-19 on December 16, but was then pictured at an event maskless with children the following day at the Novak Tennis Centre in Belgrade before being interviewed by French publisher L'Equipe on December 18.
Serbia's COVID-19 health regulations say that a person who tests postive for COVID-19 must self-isolate for 14 days, unless they receive a negative PCR test during that period.
A breach of Serbia's health regulations during an epidemic holds a maximum prison sentence of three years.
Serbia prime minister Ana Brnabic said Djokovic would have to explain his actions and reiterated the country's rules surrounding positive COVID-19 tests.
"If you're positive you have to be in isolation," Brnabic told the BBC.
She added: "I do not know when he actually got the results, when he saw the results, so there is some grey area… the only answer to this can be provided by Novak."
Djokovic has admitted to breaching Serbia's COVID-19 regulations by attending the L'Equipe interview on December 18, but says he didn't know he was positive for the virus when he was with children at an event the day before.
"I want to address the continuing misinformation about my activities and attendance at events in December in the lead up to my positive PCR COVID test result," Djokovic wrote.
"I attended a basketball game in Belgrade on 14 December after which it was reported that a number of people tested positive with COVID-19.
"Despite having no COVID symptoms, I took a rapid antigen test on 16 December which was negative, and out of an abundance of caution, also took an official and approved PCR test on that same day.
"The next day I attended a tennis event in Belgrade to present awards to children and took a rapid antigen test before going to the event, and it was negative. "
"I was asymptomatic and felt good, and I had not received the notification of a positive PCR test result until after that event.
"The next day, on 18 December I was at my tennis centre in Belgrade to fulfil a long-standing commitment for a L'Equipe interview and photoshoot. I cancelled all other events except for the L'Equipe interview," he said.
"I felt obliged to go ahead and conduct the L'Equipe interview as I didn't want to let the journalist down, but did ensure I socially distanced and wore a mask except when my photograph was being taken.
"While I went home after the interview to isolate for the required period, on reflection, this was an error of judgement and I accept that I should have rescheduled this commitment."
Djokovic is currently training in preparation for the Australian Open, where he will be shooting for his 10th title in the event - which commences on Monday.
However, the 34-year-old's future in Australia is still unclear, with Immigration Minister Alex Hawke still deciding whether to cancel Djokovic's visa for being unvaccinated and allegedly breaching the nation's customs regulations with his visa application.
