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NOVAK NOBBLED FOR NO VAX STANCE

The world's number one tennis player Novak Djokovic has refused to comply with attempted vaccine coercion.

Although originally allowed to play in the upcoming Australian tournament the politicians have stepped in and found some excuses.


What is the value of the tournament, without the world's number one?




Here is the BBC's take on the story...


QUOTE: "....Novak Djokovic: Australia cancels top tennis player's visa


Tennis star Novak Djokovic has had his visa to enter Australia dramatically revoked on his arrival in Melbourne.


The world number one was held in the city's airport for several hours before border forces announced he had not met entry rules and would be deported.


He has reportedly now been taken to a government detention hotel pending his departure on an outbound flight.


The developments come amid a backlash over a vaccine exemption Djokovic said he got to play in the Australian Open.


Djokovic has not spoken about his vaccination status, but last year he said he was "opposed to vaccination".

Tennis Australia confirmed a medical exemption had been granted for the player "following a rigorous review process involving two separate independent panels" but problems emerged after Djokovic arrived in Melbourne late on Wednesday from Dubai.


In a statement, the Australian Border Force said Djokovic "failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently cancelled.

"Non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa on entry or who have had their visa cancelled will be detained and removed from Australia," it added.


Victoria's acting sports minister tweeted that the state had declined to support his visa application amid the confusion.


Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has denied Djokovic is being singled out and said no one was above the country's rules. At a press conference on Thursday, Mr Morrison said he had been advised that a medical exemption was not in place for the player's entry and said the evidence provided was "found to be insufficient".


Local reports suggest Djokovic could pursue a legal appeal or apply for a new visa so he can re-enter and play in the tournament.


But the tennis star's treatment has provoked outrage in his native Serbia. His father, Srdjan Djokovic said his son had been held in a room guarded by police at the airport..


"This is not just a fight for Novak, but a fight for the whole world," he said in a statement released to the media.

President Aleksander Vucic said the star was a victim of "harassment" and said that "the whole of Serbia" supported him....."


Read more here


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-59889522

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