The ongoing suspicion regarding Novak Djokovic’s participation in the Australian Open has taken a complete turn once again. In a recent update, for the second time in a row, Australia has withdrawn tennis star’s visa due to his refusal to take the vaccination. Djokovic now faces deportation as a result of Immigration Minister Alex Hawke’s decision. The 34-year-old Serbian, however, can still file a legal challenge to stay in the country. The Australian Open, which begins on Monday, was supposed to feature the world number one in men’s tennis.
Today I exercised my power… to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic
The tennis star won a court case against the Australian government’s decision to discontinue his visa when he first entered the country unvaccinated with a medical exemption last week. Hawke had the alternative of utilizing his authority to revoke Djokovic’s visa once again. “Today I exercised my power… to cancel the visa held by Mr. Novak Djokovic. On health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so,” the minister said in a statement. Djokovic is also likely to face a three-year ban on attaining a new Australian visa as a result of the move.
Novak, on the other hand, has the privilege to re-file a lawful challenge to the Australian government’s judgment. To authorize him to continue his stay in the country and compete in the Australian Open in 2022. Djokovic is the top seed in the Australian Open. And has been practicing at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne ahead of the competition’s start on January 17. However, the verdict came after Djokovic refuted making a false proclamation on his travel form. Asserting that he had not toured in the 14 days leading up to his arrival in Australia when he had traveled to Spain after testing positive for Covid-19. He also acknowledged meeting a journalist and having a photoshoot while COVID-19 positive.
The unrest has swivelled the tennis world and cast a gloom over the Australian Open
Some Australians, observing long and strict COVID-19 lockdowns were not happy over Djokovic’s allowance despite not taking the vaccine. He was detained, then devoured hours at an airport immigration checkpoint. And then days at an immigration hotel his visa was put back by a judge a few days later. And he was released after a judge ruled that border officials had broken protocol when he entered. Hawke, however, canceled Djokovic’s visa on Friday evening in Melbourne. Citing separate powers in Australia’s Migration Act. He can deport anyone he believes poses a threat to “the health, safety, or good order of the Australian community” under the act. The unrest has swiveled the tennis world and cast a gloom over the Australian Open’s build-up, putting the sport at the center of a global debate over government restrictions to combat the pandemic.