New Delhi: Australia on Thursday cancelled World No. 1 Novak Djokovic’s visa to enter the country, Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed, the ANI reported.
“Mr Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted.
Morrison said Djokovic was no special case and the same rules that apply to everyone will apply to him.
The defending Australian Open champion may leave Melbourne as early as Thursday evening.
Djokovic landed at Melbourne airport on Wednesday night after a 15-hour flight from Dubai to defend his Australian Open title. Djokovic, who has refused to disclose his vaccination status, had cited a medical exemption.
But Australian Border Force (ABF) held him in a hotel before announcing cancellation of his visa. As per a report in Sydney Morning Herald, Djokovic had to spend eight hours in detention at Melbourne airport.
In a statement, ABF said the tennis star had “failed to provide appropriate evidence” to support his exemption from a requirement to be double vaccinated against COVID, The Guardian reported.
Djokovic has decided to take legal action against his visa cancellation.
The tennis star had said on Tuesday that he had secured a medical exemption. In December, Tennis Australia, in its COVID-19 vaccination policy, included a process for players seeking medical exemptions to play in the Melbourne Grand Slam.
Mr Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled. Rules are rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules. Our strong border policies have been critical to Australia having one of the lowest death rates in the world from COVID, we are continuing to be vigilant.
— Scott Morrison (@ScoMo30) January 5, 2022
