Australia has vowed to deport tennis world champion, Novak Djokovic on Thursday, as the vaccine-skeptic Serb failed to meet strict pandemic entry requirements.
Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Djokovic could not provide evidence of double vaccination or a medical exemption when he touched down to defend his Australian Open crown.
“Rules are rules and there are no special cases,” Morrison said after Djokovic’s visa was revoked and he was detained at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport overnight.
Although the 34-year-old has refused to reveal his vaccine status publicly, he has previously voiced opposition to being jabbed. He is reported to have contracted Covid at least once.
Despite Australia’s stringent Covid and vaccine rules, he flew to Melbourne having said on social media that he had an exemption to play in the Australian Open, which begins on January 17.
All participants at the first Grand Slam of 2022 must be vaccinated against Covid-19 or have a medical exemption, which is granted only after assessment by two panels of independent experts.
Djokovic’s triumphant Instagram post seemed to end months of speculation about whether he would be able to defend his Open title and have a shot at securing an unprecedented 21st Grand Slam.
But instead of a conquering champion’s return, Djokovic never made it past border control.
Australian border officials questioned the sports star and revoked his visa citing a failure to “provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements”.
Djokovic was held at the airport overnight and eventually moved to an undisclosed government facility pending deportation.
Legal sources told AFP that a deportation order had been scheduled for just after midday local time (0100 GMT), but a delay seemed likely pending Djokovic’s possible appeal.
