Djokovic’s lawyers say COVID infection has given Australia an exception News

The world number one in men’s tennis, Novak Djokovic, was vaccinated with COVID medical exception His lawyer argued in his court documents that he had contracted the disease because he had contracted the disease last month.

Djokovic was denied entry to Melbourne Airport after border officials revoked his visa for failing to comply with his entry requirement for all non-citizens to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

In a court file on Saturday, Monday before his trial visa cancellation, Djokovic said he had received an exception from the organizer of the Tennis Australia tournament, saying he had been allowed to enter the country with a follow-up letter from the Home Office.

The Serbian player, who is aiming to win his 21st Grand Slam at the Australian Open this month, is on his third day in an immigration arrest in Melbourne, a case that has caused a stir in sports, politics and diplomacy.

Djokovic, a voice against vaccination orders, has been confined to a humble hotel after his visa was canceled because of problems. medical exception submitted from the country’s immigration application for the coronavirus vaccine.

The drama has caused tensions between Serbia and Australia and has also become a point for opponents of vaccine orders around the world.

“I explained that I was recently infected with COVID in December 2021 and that I was entitled to a medical exemption under the Australian Government’s rules and guidelines,” Djokovic said of the experience arrested in the court file. Melbourne Airport.

Djokovic told Australian Border Forces officials: “I did the Australian Travel Declaration correctly and otherwise I met all the necessary conditions to legally enter Australia with my visa.”

Djokovic returned for his first positive COVID-19 test on Dec. 16, but by Dec. 30, “he had no fever or no symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 72 hours,” the file said.

On January 1, he said he had received a document from Home Affairs stating that his response met the “requirements to arrive in Australia without quarantine”.

The federal court has ordered the submission of its answer to the Home Office on Sunday. The Australian Open will start on 17 January.

Meanwhile, on December 14, Djokovic took part in a Euroleague basketball match between the Red Star and Barcelona at the Belgrade Sports Center. The photo was taken embracing by several players from both teams, some of whom were soon positive.

The Belgrade Tennis Federation said in a Facebook post after the December 17 event that Djokovic had awarded cups and prizes to the best young players in 2021.

At the ceremony, which took place at the Novak Tennis Center in the Serbian capital, only the winners took part in “epidemiological measures related to the coronavirus pandemic,” the federation said in a statement.

Along with several photos of Djokovic, he handed over the cup and prizes to the federation officials and about 20 young players.

No one was wearing a mask.

Djokovic took part in another rally on December 16, when he was honored by the Serbian National Postal Service by releasing a series of stamps showing him and his sporting achievements.

He posted a photo of the event on Instagram on December 17th.

Many countries accept a new COVID infection as a reason to be exempted from vaccination requirements. The Australian federal government issued a letter immediately after Djokovic arrived, informing Tennis Australia that this was not necessarily the case in the country.

The federal and Victorian governments and Tennis Australia have denied responsibility for the lawsuit.

A media report from Djokovic’s court file confirmed that he had asked to be taken to the accommodation to enter the tennis court, but that his request had been denied. The Park Hotel, which houses him, is also home to dozens of asylum seekers trying to enter the country.

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said the player had been given gluten-free food, exercise tools and a SIM card.

“He will stay at the Park Hotel until the final decision is made,” Brnabic told Serbian media.

“We have managed to ensure that gluten-free food is delivered to him, as well as training tools, a laptop and a SIM card so that he can keep in touch with his family.”

“It’s a positive tone on the Australian side. The Serbian government is ready to provide all the necessary guarantees to allow Novak to enter Australia, the Serbian president said [Aleksandar Vucic] he’s also involved, ”Brnabic said.

He said in Djokovic’s case that he had expressed “surprise”, “surprise” and “confusion” when he was arrested last night, and that he had prepared a bed next to the airport interview room so he could rest while he waited until dawn. representatives and Tennis Australia, the file says.

Eventually, Customs officials “put pressure” on Djokovic to conduct an interview before speaking with them, the file says.

Tennis Australia said it never misled players and always asked players to be vaccinated, after News Corp published a statement from the organization, apparently informing players of ways to enter the country with a medical vaccination exemption.

“We have always been consistent in telling players that vaccination is the best way to play, not only as the right thing to do to protect themselves and others, but also as the best way to ensure that they can reach Australia.” Tennis Australia said in a statement.

“We strongly reject the fact that the game team was fooled into knowing this.”

Tennis Australia’s advice was based on the contents of the federal government’s website mentioned by the federal health minister, the statement added.

Meanwhile, Czech player Renata Voracova, who was arrested at the same hotel as Djokovic and had her visa revoked after her problems, was seen leaving a hotel in a van on Saturday.

His destination was not immediately clear, but he had previously told the Czech media that he was still waiting to leave the country after deciding not to appeal the decision.