Highlights
- Australian Open will be held from January 17
- Novak Djokovic has won 20 Grand Slams
- Visa canceled after being stopped at the airport for hours
Novak Djokovic had to spend a day imprisoned in an immigration department hotel awaiting a court decision upon arrival in Australia over visa applications related to the COVID-19 vaccination rules.
Earlier, Djokovic, who had come with the intention of winning his 10th Australian Open title, has been denied entry and his visa has also been canceled for failing to meet the conditions required for exemption from corona vaccination rules.
Djokovic may have to spend another night in captivity at the Immigration Department
The veteran, who has won 20 Grand Slam titles, may have to spend at least one more night in the immigration department’s captivity. There is also a possibility that he will remain like this till the end of this week.
Djokovic approached the court against it on Thursday. Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly adjourned Djokovic’s case until Monday after a delay in receiving applications to review visa rulings and a temporary ban on his deportation was imposed. A government lawyer agreed that the 34-year-old tennis player should not be deported before the next hearing.
Then Djokovic said that he had medical exemption.
World number one Djokovic said on social media on Tuesday that he had got medical exemption and arrived in Australia late on Wednesday. Under this medical exemption, he was relieved by following the strict vaccination rules of the Victorian government.
The border officials, however, did not accept the exemption. The Australian Border Force said in a statement that Djokovic had failed to meet the necessary conditions.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a press conference, ‘The rule is very clear. You have to take the medical exemption which he did not have. We talked at the border and that’s where it happened.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said border officials revoked Djokovic’s visa after reviewing his medical exemption. He added that Djokovic can appeal against the decision but will have to leave the country if the visa is revoked.
The President of Djokovic’s country, Serbia, has condemned the treatment meted out to him. Djokovic was kept at Melbourne airport overnight. The 20-time Grand Slam champion had to wait eight hours to know whether he would be allowed to enter Australia. They were later sent to the hotel till the next flight or legal action.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation and other local media reported that proceedings had begun in federal court against the cancellation of Djokovic’s visa. If Djokovic had proved that he had got the corona vaccines, then this would not have happened but he asked for medical exemption. Questions were also raised on the exemption given to him.
‘Rules are rules’
Morrison tweeted, ‘Rules are rules, especially when it comes to boundaries. No one is above these rules. It is because of our strict border policy that the death rate due to corona virus in Australia is low. We have to be cautious.
Asked about the confusion created by the different requirements of the federal government and the state government, Morrison said it was up to the traveler to provide the correct documents upon arrival.
He also dismissed allegations that Djokovic was being targeted but said other players in Australia were on some kind of medical exemption and visa.
He said, ‘Every person who comes here, whether it is a big personality, politician or tennis player, they are asked questions.’ Medical exemptions are reviewed by two independent panels of experts based on information provided by players. Under this, Djokovic was given an exemption to play the Australian Open. Djokovic has been refusing to tell whether he has got corona vaccines or not.
His father, S Djokovic, told the B92 internet portal that his son has been kept at the airport in a room that no one else can enter and is guarded by two police officers. Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vui said on Instagram that he had spoken to Djokovic. He said that he is talking to Serbian authorities so that the torture of the world’s best tennis player can be stopped soon.
Australian Open to start from January 17
The Victoria State Government has allowed only those players, staff, officials and spectators to enter the Australian Open starting from January 17, who have received both the vaccines of Corona.
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