Srinagar, January 6: Australian border authorities have denied entry to World No.1 Tennis player Novak Djokovic into Country over Covid-19 Vaccination rules and have cancelled his Visa.
Djokovic’s chance to play for a 10th Australian Open title on Thursday hit serious halt, when Australian authorities denied him entry and cancelled his visa because he failed to meet the requirements for an exemption to Covid-19 vaccination rules.
Djokovic had announced on social media Tuesday that he had ‘exemption permission’ and landed in Australia late Wednesday after receiving a medical exemption from the Victoria state government that was expected to shield him from the strict vaccination regulations inplace for this year’s first major tennis tournament.
But border authorities did not accept the exemption. The Australian Border Force issued a statement saying Djokovic failed to meet entry requirements.
‘The rule is very clear,’ Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison told a news conference Thursday. ‘You need to have a medical exemption. He didn’t have a valid medical exemption. We make the call at the border, and that’s where it’s enforced.’
When asked again about Djokovic’s case later Wednesday, Morrison added: ‘If that evidence is insufficient, then he won’t be treated any different to anyone else, and he’ll be on the next plane home.’