Tennis star Camila Giorgi among high-profile Italians accused of faking vaccine papers

A doctor was arrested last year in northeastern Italy for allegedly doling out fake COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination certificates. Italian pro-tennis star and lingerie model Camila Giorgi, 31, is now under investigation on suspicion of being one of the doctor's high-profile clients.

If physician Daniela Grillon's admissions to investigators are true, then Giorgi competed in several international tennis competitions under the false pretense that she was was vaccinated.

What are the details?

Daniela Grillon was arrested in Vincenza in February 2022 and charged with doling out fake serums and vaccination records, reported Tennis365.

Grillon claims to have faked vaccinations for hundreds of people, including the popular Italian musician Francesca Calearo, who goes by "Madame," and the Giorgi family.

The doctor said that she could "confirm with [absolute] certainty that none of the vaccines against the Giorgi family have actually been administered."

"The Giorgi family has been under treatment with me for a long time. Camila Giorgi suffered from the so-called 'tennis elbow,'" Grillon told Corriere del Veneto. "Shortly before the beginning of summer, she had come asking for the possibility of obtaining false proof of all the mandatory vaccines, as well as the COVID vaccine."

Giorgi, who has over 400 wins on tour under her belt plus three singles titles, played in the Australian Open in 2022, which required athletes to produce vaccine certificates. She reached the third round, losing to Ash Barty, rated number one in the world.

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic was precluded defending his title at the same competition, having been deported from Australia over his refusal to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

The BBC indicated that Djokovic was initially granted a medical exemption to enter Australia, having been naturally infected with the virus in December 2021. Despite his potential natural immunity, the country's border force detained him and had his visa revoked.

Extra to the Australian Open, which will now allow athletes to compete even if they test positive for COVID-19, Giorgi competed at several competitions, including the Grand Slam in Australia, the National Bank Open in Canada, and the US Open.

Both the U.S. and Canada required that travelers be vaccinated to enter the country at the time of Giorgi's entry.

While Giorgi is set to compete in the Australian Open on Jan. 16, proof that she provided false documents could get her ejected from the country.

The Women's Tennis Association is monitoring the situation and following the investigation by Italian police, reported Fox Sports.

Others, athletes included, have previously attempted to avoid being vaccinated.

In December 2021, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown and two other NFL players received suspensions for flouting pandemic protocols. Brown allegedly used a fake vaccination card.

In the same month, an Italian man tried to get a real vaccination certificate with a fake arm.

CNN reported that a 50-year-old in northern Italy tried to pass a silicone arm off as his own at a vaccination clinic. While the veteran nurse administering the shot jabbed the fake arm, she quickly realized her mistake and castigated her patient.

Chloe Mrozak of Illinois attempted to travel to Hawaii in August 2021 with a fake vaccine card, but raised eyebrows with a typo on the document. Moderna was spelled "Maderna."