“We do it, it’s not a magnet but a laser” – Corriere.it

The story of the “little button” spotted on Novak Djokovic’s bare chest during Roland Garros in Paris and initially identified as a neodymium magnet which would – according to those who produce it, of course – have the effect of “reducing the effects of bruising due to sprains and strains and other acute injuries and inflammation, correct energy imbalances, improve immune function, relieve stress, reduce or cease pain and improve sleep.

To those who quoted the two large Australian companies that produce it and allegedly supplied it to the tennis player, a company from the Veneto region, Tao Technologies srls, replied on its website: «We produce the button and it’s not a question of magnetic waves but of feeding the body with wavelengths of therapeutic light, acting as an ultra low level laser therapy laser which benefits the entire body». Djokovic, explains the company, would have known the product through “Mladen Knez of Portorose (Slovenia) and Ivan Lončarevič of Copenhagen”. Who the two characters are neither Tao nor Google reveals.

In a press release, the CEO of the Venetian company Fabio Fontana (IT and telecommunications technician, expert in biophysics applied to medicine, electromagnetic pollution and light therapy) proudly explains that «it is gratifying and exciting to know that behind the many successes of Novak Djokovic there is also a bit of Italy and there is our company which for years, through research, innovation and experimentation, has been working to improve the quality of life of people and sportsmen in particular». However, Djokovic does not appear on the company-sponsored athletes page unlike the cyclist Andrea Pasqualon, the triathlete Sofia Teso and Giorgione Volleyball, all from Veneto.

What is the agreement between Djokovic and the company? Nobody, at least interpreting the words of the founder and CEO of the company that he told the Gazzettino that «when I saw his photos at Roland Garros I understood that he too was using my device. And in the press conference he confirmed by making the joke about Iron Man ». How the object works is not very clear, but according to the manufacturer (who also recommends it to dogs and cats) it is a matter of «transmission of coherent photons to the body via patches which are applied in specific points, favoring an immediately measurable rebalancing of the system». Tao Technologies has 14 employees and a share capital of 950 euros. Costs? The button cannot be purchased on its own, but in kits (three pieces) with advice and manuals for 349 euros. VAT included.