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Australian authorities on Thursday lifted the visa for world first tennis player Novak Djokovic for failing to provide adequate evidence of exemption from the rules requiring the inclusion of foreigners, officials said.
The decision was made after the Serbian player was questioned at a Melbourne airport one night after the Down Under was given a medical exemption from the COVID vaccine to play in the Australian Open amid widespread anger.
“Novak Djokovic’s visa has been revoked,” Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said in the Australian breakfast news. dawn. “Of course, it was through the Victorian government process that the exemption was reviewed. The integrity and evidence behind it were being examined.”
“It’s up to him whether he wants to appeal, but if the visa is revoked, someone will have to leave the country,” he added.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the decision was made out of a desire to remain vigilant in the pandemic.
A source told BuzzFeed News that Djokovic and his coaching staff were at the airport and were planning to file a legal appeal, but did not expect success.
“They hope to be on the flight home later in the day,” the source said.
The higher The solo tennis player, who is seeking a record for the 21st Grand Slam title, was questioned for several hours by border officials after landing Australian time on Wednesday night.
According to Reuters, his father told Serbian media that they had to wait alone for the player in an airport lounge under armed guard, awaiting the final decision.
“It’s not the most common Down Under trip,” Djokovic coach Goran Ivanisevic posted Instagram from the airport around 5am
Djokovic’s beliefs and behavior have been headlines throughout the pandemic. He said in April 2020 against vaccines and that he would not want to be shot for traveling. A few months later, he and his wife tested positive for COVID they ignored the recommendations of social exclusion after organizing and playing exhibition matches. In October 2021, he said there were questions about his vaccination status:inappropriate”.
The tournament’s defender was shocked on Tuesday when he posted on social media that he had been given an “exceptional permit” to travel to Australia. But, like Melbourne Old newspaper as previously reported, it was not clear whether Djokovic had provided sufficient evidence to prove the reason for his exception.
Under Australian law, foreigners traveling to the country must and must have a visa completely vaccinated. Australian tennis and Victorian officials in Melbourne made similar demands on players who wanted to take part in the Open without the first mandatory 14-day quarantine.
But Australian immunization officials determined some temporary exceptions to vaccines for its citizens, including people who have had a COVID case confirmed by PCR in the last six months. It is unclear whether it applies to foreigners wishing to enter Australia, but tennis officials stated these exceptions in the decision to allow Djokovic to participate.
Djokovic was granted an exemption from playing in Melbourne, which lasted the longest blockade in the world Australia wanted to keep the COVID case at zero, before spreading the vaccine, which caused a stir in the country.
Tennis and Victoria officials stressed that his request had gone through a “double-blind” review process, but large sections of the Australian public and media were opposed to the decision.
“I don’t care how good a tennis player is. If he refuses to be vaccinated, he should not be admitted, “wrote Stephen Parnis, former vice-president of the Australian Medical Association. Twitter.
Asked about the tennis player’s exception on Wednesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters that Djokovic would have to “give acceptable evidence” that he could not be vaccinated for medical reasons.
“We look forward to his presentation and what evidence he provides to help us with that,” Morrison said he said. “If that evidence is not enough, then there will be no different treatment for anyone else, and he will be on the next plane home.”
On Wednesday, the Morrison government said it would have a word on whether Djokovic would be allowed to enter the country.
“The Victorian government and Tennis Australia, which can allow a player without a vaccine to compete in the Australian Open, will meet the requirements of the Commonwealth Government on the Australian border,” said Home Secretary Karen Andrews. statement “Australian border rules apply to everyone”.
“A person competing in the Australian Open will not receive special treatment,” Andrews said.
Hunt, the health minister, said the rules were tough but fair. “Australians have had to work hard,” said Hunt, “and Australians in many states and territories have had to show their vaccination records in some cases to enter premises and cafes and other things, and it doesn’t make sense to do the same. a duty for all who are. “
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