• About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Friday, January 27, 2023
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The US Inquirer
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Tech
    Snapchat to lay off more than 1,200 staffers, or 20% of global employees

    Snapchat to lay off more than 1,200 staffers, or 20% of global employees

    Apple Car Leaks Highlight Price, Design, Material, Game-Changing Feature And Launch Window

    Apple Car Leaks Highlight Price, Design, Material, Game-Changing Feature And Launch Window

    SpaceX Capsule Splashes Down, Bringing 4 Astronauts Home From 6-month Mission

    SpaceX Capsule Splashes Down, Bringing 4 Astronauts Home From 6-month Mission

    Elon Musk expected to serve as temporary Twitter CEO after deal closes

    Elon Musk expected to serve as temporary Twitter CEO after deal closes

    Instagram is testing fullscreen feed for Reels

    Instagram is testing fullscreen feed for Reels

    Google will now remove your phone number and other info from search results. Here’s how to do it.

    Google will now remove your phone number and other info from search results. Here’s how to do it.

    Trending Tags

  • Business
  • World
  • Sports
  • Science
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Movies
    • Music
    Q&A: A look at $1.9B Powerball jackpot, how it grew so large

    Q&A: A look at $1.9B Powerball jackpot, how it grew so large

    Local creator “Insyde” showing love to Oklahoma City

    Local creator “Insyde” showing love to Oklahoma City

    ‘Gladiator’ actor Russell Crowe feted in Rome

    ‘Gladiator’ actor Russell Crowe feted in Rome

    Ralph Lauren draws A-list Hollywood crowd for sumptuous show

    Ralph Lauren draws A-list Hollywood crowd for sumptuous show

    Johnny Depp calls ex-wife Amber Heard’s allegations “unbelievably brutal, cruel, and all false” in return to stand in libel trial

    Johnny Depp calls ex-wife Amber Heard’s allegations “unbelievably brutal, cruel, and all false” in return to stand in libel trial

    TV star Joshua Duggar sentenced to 12 years in child porn case

    TV star Joshua Duggar sentenced to 12 years in child porn case

    Surgeon testifies Johnny Depp’s hand injury was likely not from a thrown bottle

    Surgeon testifies Johnny Depp’s hand injury was likely not from a thrown bottle

    Post Malone is expecting a child with girlfriend

    Post Malone is expecting a child with girlfriend

    “American Idol” winner Laine Hardy arrested in Louisiana for allegedly placing recording device in ex-girlfriend’s room

    “American Idol” winner Laine Hardy arrested in Louisiana for allegedly placing recording device in ex-girlfriend’s room

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Health
    • Travel
    Alcohol death toll is growing, US government reports say

    Alcohol death toll is growing, US government reports say

    One legacy of COVID-19: More cash for Americans in need

    One legacy of COVID-19: More cash for Americans in need

    U.K. “Partygate” probe reveals details of illegal, booze-fueled parties at PM Boris Johnson’s house during COVID lockdown

    U.K. “Partygate” probe reveals details of illegal, booze-fueled parties at PM Boris Johnson’s house during COVID lockdown

    FDA chief struggles to explain its slow response on baby formula

    FDA chief struggles to explain its slow response on baby formula

    Military plane carrying 39 tons of baby formula arrives in U.S.

    Military plane carrying 39 tons of baby formula arrives in U.S.

    She sat next to the annoying guy on the plane. Then they fell in love

    She sat next to the annoying guy on the plane. Then they fell in love

    White House warns COVID could infect 100 million this winter

    White House warns COVID could infect 100 million this winter

    WHO Members To Consider Shutting Europe Hub Office In Russia Over Ukraine

    WHO Members To Consider Shutting Europe Hub Office In Russia Over Ukraine

    FDA could authorize COVID vaccine for children 5 and under, and Novavax vaccine, this June

    FDA could authorize COVID vaccine for children 5 and under, and Novavax vaccine, this June

    Colorado inmate tests positive for avian flu, health officials say

    Colorado inmate tests positive for avian flu, health officials say

    Trending Tags

  • Opinion
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Tech
    Snapchat to lay off more than 1,200 staffers, or 20% of global employees

    Snapchat to lay off more than 1,200 staffers, or 20% of global employees

    Apple Car Leaks Highlight Price, Design, Material, Game-Changing Feature And Launch Window

    Apple Car Leaks Highlight Price, Design, Material, Game-Changing Feature And Launch Window

    SpaceX Capsule Splashes Down, Bringing 4 Astronauts Home From 6-month Mission

    SpaceX Capsule Splashes Down, Bringing 4 Astronauts Home From 6-month Mission

    Elon Musk expected to serve as temporary Twitter CEO after deal closes

    Elon Musk expected to serve as temporary Twitter CEO after deal closes

    Instagram is testing fullscreen feed for Reels

    Instagram is testing fullscreen feed for Reels

    Google will now remove your phone number and other info from search results. Here’s how to do it.

    Google will now remove your phone number and other info from search results. Here’s how to do it.

    Trending Tags

  • Business
  • World
  • Sports
  • Science
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Movies
    • Music
    Q&A: A look at $1.9B Powerball jackpot, how it grew so large

    Q&A: A look at $1.9B Powerball jackpot, how it grew so large

    Local creator “Insyde” showing love to Oklahoma City

    Local creator “Insyde” showing love to Oklahoma City

    ‘Gladiator’ actor Russell Crowe feted in Rome

    ‘Gladiator’ actor Russell Crowe feted in Rome

    Ralph Lauren draws A-list Hollywood crowd for sumptuous show

    Ralph Lauren draws A-list Hollywood crowd for sumptuous show

    Johnny Depp calls ex-wife Amber Heard’s allegations “unbelievably brutal, cruel, and all false” in return to stand in libel trial

    Johnny Depp calls ex-wife Amber Heard’s allegations “unbelievably brutal, cruel, and all false” in return to stand in libel trial

    TV star Joshua Duggar sentenced to 12 years in child porn case

    TV star Joshua Duggar sentenced to 12 years in child porn case

    Surgeon testifies Johnny Depp’s hand injury was likely not from a thrown bottle

    Surgeon testifies Johnny Depp’s hand injury was likely not from a thrown bottle

    Post Malone is expecting a child with girlfriend

    Post Malone is expecting a child with girlfriend

    “American Idol” winner Laine Hardy arrested in Louisiana for allegedly placing recording device in ex-girlfriend’s room

    “American Idol” winner Laine Hardy arrested in Louisiana for allegedly placing recording device in ex-girlfriend’s room

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Health
    • Travel
    Alcohol death toll is growing, US government reports say

    Alcohol death toll is growing, US government reports say

    One legacy of COVID-19: More cash for Americans in need

    One legacy of COVID-19: More cash for Americans in need

    U.K. “Partygate” probe reveals details of illegal, booze-fueled parties at PM Boris Johnson’s house during COVID lockdown

    U.K. “Partygate” probe reveals details of illegal, booze-fueled parties at PM Boris Johnson’s house during COVID lockdown

    FDA chief struggles to explain its slow response on baby formula

    FDA chief struggles to explain its slow response on baby formula

    Military plane carrying 39 tons of baby formula arrives in U.S.

    Military plane carrying 39 tons of baby formula arrives in U.S.

    She sat next to the annoying guy on the plane. Then they fell in love

    She sat next to the annoying guy on the plane. Then they fell in love

    White House warns COVID could infect 100 million this winter

    White House warns COVID could infect 100 million this winter

    WHO Members To Consider Shutting Europe Hub Office In Russia Over Ukraine

    WHO Members To Consider Shutting Europe Hub Office In Russia Over Ukraine

    FDA could authorize COVID vaccine for children 5 and under, and Novavax vaccine, this June

    FDA could authorize COVID vaccine for children 5 and under, and Novavax vaccine, this June

    Colorado inmate tests positive for avian flu, health officials say

    Colorado inmate tests positive for avian flu, health officials say

    Trending Tags

  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
The US Inquirer
No Result
View All Result
Home Sports

Novak Djokovic in limbo as he fights deportation from Australia

by The US Inquirer
January 6, 2022
in Sports
Reading Time: 6 mins read
A A
Novak Djokovic in limbo as he fights deportation from Australia

Novak Djokovic spent a day confined in an immigration detention hotel waiting for a court ruling and dealing with the prospect of deportation from Australia because of an issue with his visa application relating to COVID-19 vaccination regulations.

The 20-time major champion from Serbia will spend at least another night in immigration detention, probably even the weekend, with his chances of playing in this month’s Australian Open in limbo.

With his visa canceled by Australian Border Force officials who rejected his evidence to support a medical exemption from the country’s strict COVID-19 vaccination rules, Djokovic had to trade the practice courts for the law courts on Thursday.

Djokovic has not disclosed if he is vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly adjourned Djokovic’s case until Monday because of a delay in receiving the application for a review of the visa decisions and the temporary ban on his deportation. A lawyer for the government agreed the 34-year-old tennis player should not be deported before the next hearing.

FILE – Serbia’s Novak Djokovic poses with Norman Brookes Challenge Cup the day after defeating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the men’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair, File)

Djokovic’s trip was contentious before he landed, when it emerged the conservative federal government and the left-leaning state government of Victoria had differing views about what constituted acceptable grounds for an exemption to Australia’s vaccination policy for visitors.

After announcing on social media Tuesday that he had “exemption permission,” Djokovic landed in Melbourne late Wednesday thinking he had Victoria state approval that would shield him from the regulations requiring all players, fans and staff to be fully vaccinated to attend the Australian Open, which starts on Jan. 17.

That would have been OK to enter the tournament, but apparently not the country.

After a long-haul flight, Djokovic spent the night trying to convince the authorities he had all the necessary documentation, but the Australian Border Force issued a statement saying he failed to meet entry requirements.

“The rule is very clear,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. “You need to have a medical exemption. He didn’t have a valid medical exemption. We make the call at the border, and that’s where it’s enforced.”

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the visa cancellation followed a review of Djokovic’s medical exemption by border officials who looked “at the integrity and the evidence behind it.”

Djokovic was transferred Thursday morning to a secure hotel controlled by immigration officials that also houses asylum seekers and refugees.

FILE – Serbia’s Novak Djokovic holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the men’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair, File)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he had spoken to Djokovic and that his government is asking that, before Monday, the 20-time major champion be allowed to move to a house he has rented and “not to be in that infamous hotel.”

He added that Djokovic has been treated differently to other players.

“I’m afraid that this overkill will continue,” Vucic said. “When you can’t beat someone, then you do such things.”

Quarantine-free access wouldn’t have been an issue if Djokovic could have shown he was fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Instead he applied for an exemption, which only became an option in recent months after Victoria state backed away from a full no-vaccination, no-play policy.

Questions have now been raised about the approval of the exemption.

The Sydney Morning Herald published letters sent in November from the Department of Health and the health minister to Tennis Australia which indicated that Djokovic didn’t meet the national standard — as defined by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation — for quarantine-free entry.

Asked about the confusion, Morrison said the onus was on the individual concerned to have correct documentation on arrival.

The prime minister rejected the suggestion that Djokovic was being singled out, but he acknowledged that other players may be in Australia on the same type of medical exemption.

“One of the things the Border Force does is they act on intelligence to direct their attention to potential arrivals,” he said. “When you get people making public statements about what they say they have, and they’re going to do, they draw significant attention to themselves.”

Anyone who does that, he said, “whether they’re a celebrity, a politician, a tennis player … they can expect to be asked questions more than others before you come.”

The medical exemption, vetted by two independent panels of experts and based on information supplied anonymously by players, was supposed to allow Djokovic to play in the Australian Open regardless of his vaccination status.

Djokovic has spoken out against vaccines in the past and has steadfastly refused to acknowledge whether he received any shots against the coronavirus.

A television cameraman films a hotel, where Serbia’s Novak Djokovic is believed to be in, in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. (Joel Carrett/AAP Image via AP)

The exemption has become a hot political topic this week. Many Australians who have struggled to obtain sparsely available and often expensive rapid antigen tests, or who have been forced into isolation, perceived a double standard.

Critics questioned what grounds Djokovic could have for the exemption, and backers argued that he has a right to privacy and freedom of choice.

Tension has grown amid another surge of COVID-19 in the country. The state recorded six deaths and 21,997 new cases on Thursday, the biggest daily jump in cases in Victoria since the pandemic began.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley on Wednesday defended the “completely legitimate application and process” and insisted there was no special treatment for Djokovic.

FILE – Serbia’s Novak Djokovic holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the men’s singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill, File)

Only 26 people connected with the tournament applied for a medical exemption and, Tiley said, only a “handful” were granted. None of those have been publicly identified, but the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported that border officials are now investigating another player and an official.

Acceptable reasons for an exemption included acute major medical conditions and serious adverse reaction to a previous dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Another one widely reported to be acceptable — evidence of a COVID-19 infection within the previous six months — may now be the sticking point.

Djokovic tested positive for the coronavirus in June 2020 after he played in a series of exhibition matches that he organized without social distancing amid the pandemic.

Share3Tweet2Share1

The US Inquirer

The US Inquirer was founded in 2007, published in 3 editions weekly, one on Tuesday, one on Thursday, and a weekend edition on Saturday. These papers were delivered to newspaper racks in various public places across Midwest City, Oklahoma and Tinker Air Force base, as well as a second-class direct mail subscription.

Next Post
New York Times to purchase The Athletic for $550 million

New York Times to purchase The Athletic for $550 million

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Daily news in your inbox!

Recent News

  • Oath Keepers boss guilty of seditious conspiracy in 1/6 case
  • Senate to vote on landmark bill to protect same-sex marriage
  • Virginia Walmart mass shooting survivor files $50M lawsuit
  • Twitter ends enforcement of COVID misinformation policy
  • Shapiro to take office with mandate from Pennsylvania voters
Twitter Facebook Instagram TikTok Youtube

About The US Inquirer

The US Inquirer is a national newspaper based in Oklahoma that brings you breaking nationwide news on politics and domestic events.

Categories

  • Business
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Movies
  • Music
  • National
  • Newspaper Updates
  • Politics
  • Science
  • Social Media
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Tennis
  • Travel
  • Weather
  • World

Menu

  • Privacy Policy
  • About
  • News Team
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Newspaper Updates
  • ISSN: 2832-0522

© 2022 The US Inquirer - Statewide Breaking News

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • Science
  • National
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Tech
  • Health
  • Food

© 2022 The US Inquirer - Statewide Breaking News

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In