January 08, (THEWILL) – According to court records filed by Novak Djokovic’s lawyers, he tested positive for COVID-19 on December 16, as the tennis world number one fights to have his Australian Open participation denial overturned.
Tennis Australia granted Djokovic an exemption from the vaccine mandate on December 30 on the grounds that he had recently recovered from a COVID-19 illness, according to documents submitted on his behalf in Australia’s Federal Circuit and Family Court.
On December 16, the Serbian professional had a positive polymerase chain response (PCR) test for the virus, according to his lawyers.
They went on to argue that his application for a medical exemption was reviewed by two independent panels of experts put together by Tennis Australia and the Victorian government, and that his exemption was “consistent with the recommendations of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation”
Although it had been claimed that Djokovic’s exemption was due to a past infection, there had been no prior public disclosure that he had developed COVID-19.
However, according to Tennis Australia documentation, the deadline for requesting a medical exemption from the tournament’s vaccine obligation was December 10, and there are social media posts from December 17 of Djokovic attending a children’s award ceremony.
Djokovic allegedly received a document from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs on January 1 stating that his Australia Travel Declaration “met the requirements for a quarantine-free arrival” according to the court filing.
Djokovic’s visa was cancelled upon his arrival in Australia because he failed to “provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia” and he is being held at an immigration hotel in Melbourne, where some of his admirers have gathered.
Despite seeking more time to confer with his lawyers, Djokovic was “pressured” to agree to the termination of his visa, according to the records.
It is not certain if this will be enough to overturn the denial of entry that the Serbian received upon arriving in Australia, whose strict entry laws against COVID-19 has kept many Australians from returning home.
The 2022 Australian Open commences on Monday, January 17 and ends on Sunday, January 30.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
