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The Serbian president has accused Australia of “maltreatment” of tennis star Novak Djokovic, who was denied entry to the country after he flew into Melbourne with a medical exemption from coronavirus vaccination guidelines.
Djokovic was granted a controversial exemption to enter Australia and compete within the Australian Open, however was held up at Melbourne airport by authorities for a number of hours earlier than his visa was cancelled. The Australian Border Power mentioned he had failed to supply sufficient proof to help his exemption.
Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić mentioned the nation had provided help to the world No 1. “I advised our Novak that the entire of Serbia is with him and that our our bodies are doing every little thing to see that the harassment of the world’s greatest tennis participant is delivered to an finish instantly,” he mentioned in a press release.
Australian prime minister Scott Morrison rejected the harassment suggestion on Thursday, saying: “Australia has sovereign borders and clear guidelines which might be non-discriminatory as so many international locations do … it has to do with the honest and affordable utility of Australia’s border safety legal guidelines … all I can say is that the proof medical exemption that was offered was discovered to be inadequate.”
In December Tennis Australia launched its Covid vaccination coverage for Melbourne’s grand slam which included a course of for gamers in search of medical exemptions to enter Victoria with out having to bear a 14-day quarantine. Djokovic, who’s against vaccination, mentioned he had been granted an exemption to compete within the competitors though the precise nature of it’s unclear. The pinnacle of Tennis Australia, Craig Tiley, mentioned exemption functions have been de-identified and rigorously assessed, and that solely a handful of different gamers and officers had been granted exemptions out of 26 functions.
The initial approval sparked public outrage earlier than the tennis star had landed, and the cancellation of his visa solely added to the furore.
Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, advised Russian media he was outraged by the therapy of his son. “Tonight they’ll throw him in a dungeon, tomorrow they’ll put him in chains. The reality is he’s like water and water paves its personal path. Novak is the Spartacus of the brand new world which gained’t tolerate injustice, colonialism and hypocrisy.”
US participant Tennys Sandgren, an Australian Open quarter-finalist in 2018 and 2020, mentioned Australia didn’t should host a grand slam. “Simply to be crystal clear right here, two separate medical boards accepted his exemption. And politicians are stopping it,” mentioned Sandgren, who has additionally opted to not get vaccinated or play within the event.
Renae Stubbs, a former Doubles world No 1 and ESPN host, described the scenario as “formally an enormous shitshow”.
“I feel ScoMo [Australian prime minister Scott Morrison] made this a second as a result of the Australian public is so aggravated by Djoker,” she mentioned on Instagram. “I might be ropeable if I used to be [Djokovic]. Additionally the opposite lesson is, get vaccinated.”
Morrison on Thursday confirmed Djokovic’s visa was cancelled, saying “guidelines are guidelines” and praising federal Covid insurance policies, a day after saying such exemptions have been a matter for state governments. “Our robust border insurance policies have been crucial to Australia having one of many lowest loss of life charges on the planet from Covid, we’re persevering with to be vigilant,” he mentioned.
Australian tennis legend Rod Laver earlier advised the Herald Solar newspaper that Djokovic ought to reveal the medical exemption he was granted. “Sure, you’re an incredible participant and also you’ve carried out and gained so many tournaments, so, it might’t be bodily. So what’s the drawback?”
World No 1 Ashleigh Barty mentioned it had been tough for Australians, and Victorians specifically, in the course of the pandemic however that she had “little interest in talking about Novak’s medical historical past”. She added: “I perceive why they might be annoyed with the choice [to grant Djokovic an exemption].”
The coach of 17-year-old Indian tennis participant Aman Dahiya, who was denied an exemption to play the Australian Open junior championships, additionally accused Australian and tennis authorities of double requirements over Djokovic’s early approval. Dahiya was denied entry as a result of he was unvaccinated, as a result of India has not but allowed individuals beneath the age of 18 to obtain a vaccine.
His coach, Jignesh Rawal, mentioned that they had provided for Dahiya to discover a dose and quarantine however have been refused, and he mentioned Dahiya was allowed to turn into “collateral harm” of Australia’s insurance policies however Djokovic – initially – was not.
“It shouldn’t be totally different,” he mentioned. “The circumstances don’t matter. The rule is when you don’t have two vaccine doses you can’t enter,” he mentioned. “Djokovic can have particular therapy on the courtroom (like centre courtroom precedence) however the entry level needs to be the identical.”
Morrison, who’s beneath hearth over his refusal to make rapid tests free or affordable to deal with main shortages and big PCR wait instances because the nation struggles with its worst ever outbreak, had robust phrases for Djokovic on Wednesday.
At a press convention he mentioned Djokovic can be “on the following aircraft house” if he was unable to supply proof of his medical exemption.
On Thursday morning Djokovic was reportedly taken to a quarantine lodge forward of anticipated deportation.
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