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Source, Reuters
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Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open last year
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World number one anti-vaccine tennis player Novak Djokovic has been denied entry to Australia.
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Djokovic’s visa, which was held at the Australian Airport after he went to the country to participate in the Australian Open tournament, was also canceled due to “an error in the visa application”.
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An exception was made for Djokovic to enter the country despite being unvaccinated, but upon the reaction of this, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Djokovic would not be subjected to special treatment when he entered the country.
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Morrison stated that if the famous tennis player was not vaccinated for medical reasons, he would have to prove it, otherwise “he could be sent to his country by the first plane”.
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Djokovic’s lawyers said they will appeal the decision.
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But Djokovic will be deported on Thursday before the appeal is concluded.
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Djokovic, who has not shared any information about his vaccination status, said last April, “Personally, I am against vaccination and I do not want someone to force me to vaccinate for travel.”
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Players participating in the Australian Open must be vaccinated or have a certificate of exemption from an independent board.
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The message “I’m going to Australia thanks to an exception” shared by Djokovic on his social media account before flying to Australia drew a reaction in the country.
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Prior to Prime Minister Morrison’s announcement, Australians had criticized the possibility that the famous tennis player Novak Djokovic would be exempted from vaccination rules so that he could play in the Australian Open tennis tournament.
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The organizers, on the other hand, argue that no special treatment was given to the champion tennis player.
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However, Australians, many of whom are unable to travel internationally or interstate, have criticized officials, politicians and Djokovic himself.
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Australian Open official Craig Tiley said 26 athletes have applied for medical exemptions and only “a few” exemptions have been granted under rules set by federal agencies.
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“I spent quality time with my loved ones during the Christmas holiday period and I’m going to the tournament with an exemption leave. Come on 2022. I’m ready to live and breathe tennis in a few weeks of tournament,” Djokovic said on his Instagram account.
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In Australia, many accuse the government of letting the rich and famous do what they want, while keeping ordinary people away from their sick and dying loved ones.
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At the height of the Covid restrictions, large numbers of Australians living in other countries were not allowed to enter the country.
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Vaccination exemption for certain diseases
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“I don’t care how good a tennis player he is,” Stephen Parnis, an emergency room doctor, said on Twitter. “If he refuses the vaccine, it shouldn’t be taken. If this exemption is true, it sends a very wrong message to reduce the risk of Covid-19. Vaccination shows respect, Novak.”
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“I think it’s very interesting. That’s all I’m going to say,” Australian player Alex de Minaur said at a press conference after news broke that Djokovic would be allowed entry.
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It is argued that medical exemption applications are evaluated by two separate committees “without looking at the name”. Acute diseases such as heart diseases are shown as valid reasons for exemption.
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However, it is also possible that Djokovic has had the disease recently and has not been vaccinated.
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