Novak Djokovic was exempted from vaccination against Covid because he contracted the virus in December, according to lawyers for the world's # 1 tennis player in a document filed in court in Melbourne.
"The date of the first positive test for PCR Covid was recorded on December 16, 2021", reads the document that seeks to reverse the cancellation of the visa to enter Australia. Nole asks to be transferred from the hotel where he is being held and to be able to train for participation in the tournament.
But something is wrong: if Djokovic was positive on December 16, how could he participate in an event for young tennis players in February on the following day, without a mask?
The tennis player's participation in the event is evidenced by the photos published on social networks. The Belgrade tennis federation, in a Facebook post after the ceremony on December 17, reported that Djokovic had handed out cups and prizes to the best young players in 2021. The event, held at the Novak tennis center in the Serbian capital, was attended by only the winners of the award "due to the epidemiological measures linked to the Coronavirus pandemic", reads the federation's statement.
Djokovic also attended another event on December 16, on the occasion of an award ceremony by the Serbian National Post which launched a series of stamps in his honor.
WAITING FOR THE DECISION - The decision of the Court on Monday. The Australian Open protocol provides an exemption for those who have contracted the infection in the past six months, but the laws of the Australian government, as far as we know, are different. The possibility of entering in case of recovery from Covid in the last six months is reserved only for Australian citizens, foreigners must necessarily be vaccinated.
In any case, the fate of the Serbian champion will soon be known, held in a hotel for irregular immigrants like his colleague, doubles tennis player Renata Voracova, from the Czech Republic, who today decided to leave Australia and give up the tournament.
Yesterday Nole wrote the first message on Instagram since the case broke: “Thanks to my family, my loved ones, Serbia and all the good people in the world who have sent me their support. Thank God for health ”. This support "I feel it and it is very much appreciated".
(Unioneonline / L)
