Australia will overturn a three-year ban on the unvaccinated Serb imposed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former world no.1 tennis participant Novak Djokovic can be granted a visa to play on the Australian Open in January 2023, Guardian Australia newspaper and state broadcaster ABC have reported.
The Australian authorities is to overturn the three-year ban imposed on the unvaccinated Serbian participant after his visa was cancelled in January 2022 throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, they reported on Tuesday.
Djokovic, who was already in Melbourne, was deported from Australia, which had strict COVID-19 protocols in place, after shedding court docket appeals. He was chasing his tenth Australian Open title.
The federal government stated {that a} COVID analysis didn’t justify his medical exemption from the principles, which clearly said that every one guests should be vaccinated. He was barred from the nation till 2025.
In keeping with the ABC report, it had confirmed that Immigration Minister Andrew Giles had overturned that ban, permitting Djokovic to compete.
A spokesperson for Australia’s immigration ministry declined to touch upon the reviews.
Australian Open event director Craig Tiley stated this month that Djokovic could be welcome in January if he might get a visa, however that Tennis Australia was unable to foyer on his behalf.
In July, the Australian authorities scrapped a rule that required worldwide travellers to declare their COVID-19 vaccination standing. Djokovic stated in October that he had acquired “constructive indicators” concerning the standing of efforts to overturn his ban.
‘Slap within the face’
Djokovic’s three-year ban might be overturned on the discretion of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left authorities, which has taken the reins from the conservative coalition in energy when the tennis star’s visa was revoked.
Opposition politician Karen Andrews, who was Residence Affairs minister when Djokovic was deported, argued that he shouldn’t be given particular therapy.
“It will be a slap within the face for these folks in Australia who did the precise factor, received vaccinated, did every little thing they wanted to do, if rapidly Novak Djokovic is allowed again into the nation just because he’s a high-ranking tennis participant with many thousands and thousands of {dollars},” she advised ABC radio final month.
If Djokovic does make it Down Underneath, he can be hoping to win and match Rafael Nadal’s document 22 Grand Slam titles.