Tuesday, January 4, 2022, Novak Djokjovic announced that he would participate in the Australian Open thanks to a medical exemption, not requiring him to provide a vaccination pass. A news that does not fail to cause controversy.
A controversial exemption. Tuesday January 4, 2022, Novak Djokovic proudly announced that he had obtained a waiver exceptional in order to be able to go to the Australian Open. But now, this announcement did not collect the reactions that the tennis player had expected. While the world champion has remained discreet about a potential vaccination against Covid-19, he would have benefited from a valid exemption in certain specific cases such as contamination passed to Covid-19 in the six months preceding the trip in Australia or a contraindication to vaccination. Medical secrecy prevents the Tennis Federation from communicating the reason why Novak Djokovic was able to benefit from it, as reported France Info.
Former professional tennis player, Sam Groth posted a column published in the newspaper Herald sun in which he violently castigates the decision of Novak Djokovic. In the eyes of the sports commentator, the tennis player launches a “spit in the face of any inhabitant of the State of Victoria and of any Australian “. For his part, Jamie Murray, tennis player, said: “You mean that you have a dispensation, but you don’t want to say why? It’s hypocritical. (…) I believe that if it was me who was not vaccinated, I would not have obtained exemption”.
The Prime Minister steps up to the plate
Scandalized, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke out about this controversy. The politician said that he required the athlete to present a justification that could explain this exemption. “We await his presentation and provide us with evidence. (…) If this evidence is insufficient, then he will not be treated any differently from anyone else, and he will return home on the first plane. There will be no special rules for Novak Djokovic. Not the least “, said the Prime Minister. The Australian Open will take place January 17-30, 2022 in Melbourne.