Reside updates: Novak Djokovic loses his provide to remain in Australia

Credit score…Mark Baker/Related Press

Novak Djokovic, the highest males’s tennis participant and his main vaccine skeptic, has had his visa canceled for the second time by the Australian authorities, the place he arrived on January 5 in hopes of defending his Australian Open title. The event begins on Monday.

This is a have a look at how the standoff unfolded:

A shock exemption gave Djokovic an obvious probability to bypass Australia’s strict vaccination guidelines.

Djokovic has gained the final three Australian Open males’s singles championships and set 9 profession information. However he has come below scrutiny for his unscientific beliefs, together with supporting claims that optimistic feelings can purify poisonous water or meals, and he has shunned coronavirus vaccines.

Final yr, the Australian Open mentioned members within the event would should be absolutely vaccinated this month, according to necessities to enter the nation. Djokovic’s participation was thought-about unlikely till January 4 when he mentioned he would play after being granted an exemption.

It was later revealed that his time without work was on account of a current coronavirus an infection.

The federal authorities stopped Djokovic on the border.

Djokovic was stopped at Melbourne Airport late on January 5 after flying from Spain by way of Dubai. He was interrogated for hours on the airport earlier than being taken to a quarantine resort.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, who has been criticized for the federal government’s response to Covid-19, mentioned Djokovic was refused entry as a result of he had not been vaccinated. Federal officers mentioned earlier coronavirus an infection was not a legitimate motive for the vaccination exemption granted by Australian tennis officers and native authorities in Victoria, the state the place the event is being held.

Djokovic, who was taken to a quarantine resort pending his departure, instantly appealed.

Djokovic gained an enchantment however questions quickly arose.

On Monday, after Djokovic spent 5 days in a resort for refugees and asylum seekers, a choose dominated that the participant had been unfairly handled on the airport and reinstated his visa.

Nevertheless, paperwork launched as a part of the court docket case elevate questions on Djokovic’s actions.

Data confirmed that he took a coronavirus take a look at at 1:05 p.m. on December 16 in Belgrade, Serbia, and acquired the optimistic consequence seven hours later. Nevertheless, social media posts revealed that he attended two public occasions on the day he aspired to his take a look at and a day later a tennis occasion in Belgrade the place he introduced prizes to youngsters. And Franck Ramella, a reporter for French sports activities newspaper L’Equipe, wrote final week that whereas conducting an interview with Djokovic on December 18, he was unaware that the athlete had simply examined optimistic.

Questions additionally arose as as to whether Djokovic had made a false assertion on his entry type to Australia when he mentioned he had not traveled internationally within the 14 days previous to his flight from Spain. Social media posts confirmed him in Serbia on Christmas Day.

Djokovic admitted errors.

In an announcement on Wednesday, Djokovic mentioned he was nonetheless unaware that he had examined optimistic whereas attending the kids’s occasion and acknowledged he made a foul choice to not interview the French journalist to cancel. He mentioned a member of his help staff made a “human error” whereas filling out his paperwork.

However Australia’s Immigration Minister Alex Hawke was already critically contemplating utilizing his powers to annul the visa for a second time.

Australia’s immigration minister revoked Djokovic’s visa.

On Friday, Hawke mentioned in an announcement that he was canceling Djokovic’s visa for “well being and good order” causes, including that it was within the public curiosity to take action. Djokovic’s attorneys rapidly appealed.

A panel of three judges agreed to listen to the case.

Legal professionals for Djokovic and the Australian authorities introduced their arguments earlier than a panel of three judges in a listening to on Sunday.

Decide David O’Callaghan’s grant of the panel on the request of Djokovic’s attorneys meant the court docket’s choice on this case can’t be appealed.