Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty
Australian officials have decided that they will not allow tennis proNovak Djokovicto remain in the country to compete in the2022 Australian Open.
According to the outlet, Djokovic, 34, left Australia on an Emirates flight to Dubai, which was the city he originally flew into the country from, not long after the decision was made.
In a statement, Djokovic said he was “extremely disappointed” but respected the ruling that was made on his behalf.
“I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister’s decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open,” Djokovic said in the statement, per ESPN. “I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country.”
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In astatementof its own, theAssociation of Tennis Professionals (ATP)noted, “Today’s decision to uphold Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa cancellation marks the end of a deeply regrettable series of events.”
“Ultimately, decisions of legal authorities regarding matters of public health must be respected. More time is required to take stock of the facts and to take the learnings from this situation,” the organization added. “ATP continues to strongly recommend vaccination to all players.”
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Hawke said in astatementthat he was canceling Djokovic’s visa “on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so.” He assured that the government is “firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Novak Djokovic returns the ball during an exhibition tournament in Zadar, Croatia.Zvonko Kucelin/AP/Shutterstock
Djokovic’s lawyers argued in court Friday that the decision to cancel his visa again was “patently irrational” and said they would be filing an appeal immediately, per CNN.
However, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison released astatementFriday agreeing with Hawke’s decision to cancel the athlete’s visa.
“This pandemic has been incredibly difficult for every Australian but we have stuck together and saved lives and livelihoods,” he said. “Australians have made many sacrifices during this pandemic, and they rightly expect the result of those sacrifices to be protected. This is what the Minister is doing in taking this action today.”
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Novak Djokovic.Sarah Stier/Getty
Hawke’s decision came just days after an Australian Federal Circuit Court judge reinstated Djokovic’s visa after his entry into Australia was delayed last week due toissues with his application. The Olympian had received a COVID-19 vaccine medical exemption to play in the Grand Slam tournament prior to arriving in the country.
It also followed news that the Australian Border Force (ABF) would investigate whether Djokovic submitted a false travel declaration stating he had not traveled in the 14 days leading to his arrival in Australia on Jan. 5, CNN reported. Djokovichad been seen in bothSpain and Serbia in the two-week period the travel declaration covered.
According to theAustralian Department of Home Affairs, the penalty for submitting a false travel declaration can be up to 12 months in prison.
source: people.com
