Djokovic lawyers reveal he had Covid in December — RT Sport News

Attorneys for tennis icon Novak Djokovic have revealed he was given an exemption to defend his Australia Open crown after testing optimistic for Covid in December.

Court docket paperwork launched by Djokovic’s authorized staff on Saturday declare that he had been given a short lived visa to enter the nation whereas additionally receiving what they stated was a “medical exemption from Covid vaccination” after being recognized with the virus on December 16. 

Djokovic’s attorneys additionally said that the Serb “had not had a fever or respiratory signs of Covid-19 within the final 72 hours” by December 30, 14 days after his an infection was confirmed. He arrived in Melbourne on January 4 following a 15-hour flight from Dubai. 

The paperwork are the primary admission that Djokovic had lately contracted Covid-19. 

The 34-year-old’s representatives say a doc from the Australian Division of Dwelling Affairs instructed the star that his responses indicated that he met “the necessities for a quarantine-free arrival into Australia”.

The exemption was cleared by two impartial medical panels organized by Tennis Australia forward of the beginning of the event on January 17, when Djokovic is hoping to safe a fourth successive title and a record-breaking twenty first Grand Slam crown. 

Nevertheless, Djokovic was detained by Australian Border Drive (ABF) officers upon his arrival and held for eight hours with virtually no contact along with his authorized staff, prompting a livid row over his eligibility to enter the nation that has captivated public curiosity in each Australia and Serbia.

ABF officers said that Djokovic had “failed to offer acceptable proof” to immigration officers at Melbourne Airport, and {that a} prior Covid an infection was not grounds for medical exemption.

Djokovic stays in isolation at a resort near Melbourne Park as he awaits a Monday listening to to find out if he’s to be deported or can be granted dispensation to compete on the Australian Open.

Djokovic’s authorized staff have additionally requested that their consumer needs to be moved to a “extra appropriate place of detention” amid studies that the resort, which homes refugees and asylum seekers, is of a really low normal.

Retailers have additionally claimed that Djokovic has had a request to be provided with a private chef turned down.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in the meantime, has backed his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison’s dealing with of the scenario after Morrison said that “nobody is above the foundations” in relation to a rustic’s immigration legal guidelines.

“It is a matter for Australia and so they’re a pleasant authorities,” stated Johnson. “I’ve the utmost respect for the Australian authorities and that is a matter for them.

“However clearly, I share very strongly the view of the Australian authorities – it is an excellent thought to get vaccinated.”

Johnson’s view of Australia’s dealing with of the Djokovic scenario is not precisely shared by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who warned officers to “cease harassing” the world’s prime tennis participant.

“Simply obtained off the telephone with with Novak Djokovic,” Vucic stated on Instagram. “I instructed our Novak that the entire of Serbia is with him and that our authorities are taking all measures to cease the harassment of the very best tennis participant on this planet within the shortest doable interval.

“In accordance with all of the norms of worldwide public regulation, Serbia will battle for Novak Djokovic, for justice and fact. In any other case, Novak is powerful, as everyone knows him.”