{"id":1187834,"date":"2022-01-04T16:21:37","date_gmt":"2022-01-04T21:21:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1187834"},"modified":"2022-01-04T16:21:41","modified_gmt":"2022-01-04T21:21:41","slug":"australia-caves-grants-tennis-champion-novak-djokovic-vaccine-mandate-exemption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/australia-caves-grants-tennis-champion-novak-djokovic-vaccine-mandate-exemption\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia Caves, Grants Tennis Champion Novak Djokovic Vaccine Mandate Exemption"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Faustralia-caves-grants-tennis-champion-novak-djokovic-vaccine-mandate-exemption%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1187834&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/tennis-atp-cup-djokovic-withdraws-serbia-novak-djokovic-defeating-croatia-marin-cilic-davis-cup-640x335-1.png\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" alt=\"image\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"subheading\">Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked men\u2019s tennis player in the world, will compete in the Australian Open under an exemption to the coronavirus vaccine mandate in place there, the champion confirmed Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic will defend the title he earned at the tournament last year. He has won the Australian Open trophy nine times, more than any other player, and has earned 20 Grand Slam singles titles, tying Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for most titles in history. Neither Federer nor Nadal will be at the tournament, and the dwindling number of big-name stars at the Australian Open this year threatened the event\u2019s bottom line before confirmation of Djokovic\u2019s appearance there. The importance of having Djokovic at the tournament was highlighted by the fact the event was <a href=\"https:\/\/ausopen.com\/articles\/news\/worlds-best-set-australian-open-2022\">advertising<\/a> a Djokovic appearance even before it was clear he would be there.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>Djokovic initially declared himself \u201cagainst vaccination\u201d regarding the Chinese coronavirus in 2020 but has since changed his position to opposing vaccine mandates, asserting that receiving a medical product should be a private choice. His presence at the tournament was not guaranteed as officials at Tennis Australia, the organization that manages the Australian Open, implemented a coronavirus vaccine mandate and had repeatedly insisted they would limit offering medical exemptions to players requesting one.<\/p>\n<p>The controversy surrounding Djokovic\u2019s potential entry into the country while unvaccinated \u2013 Djokovic had kept his vaccination status a secret prior to Tuesday, but many suspected that he had not received a vaccine product dose \u2013 escalated so far that Prime Minister Scott Morrison weighed in on the matter last year, insisting only those with medically approved exemptions to Australia\u2019s vaccine requirement would be allowed into the country.<\/p>\n<p>Australia has been subject to international condemnation for its use of quarantine \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/health\/2021\/11\/30\/australia-police-arrest-woman-accused-of-setting-fire-to-quarantine-hotel\/\">hotel<\/a>\u201d camps to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/europe\/2021\/11\/24\/delingpole-australian-army-puts-covid-19-close-contacts-into-quarantine-camps\/\">imprison<\/a> citizens potentially infected with Chinese coronavirus, using the Australian military to corral individuals identified through \u201ccontact tracing.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cHappy New Year, everybody! Wishing you all health, love, and happiness in every present moment and may you feel love &amp; respect towards all beings on this wonderful planet,\u201d Djokovic wrote on social media. \u201cI\u2019ve spent fantastic quality time with my loved ones over the break and today I\u2019m heading Down Under with an exemption permission. Let\u2019s go 2022 !!\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CYTe9fer_1K\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Tennis Australia issued a statement on Tuesday confirming that Djokovic would attend the event, according to ESPN.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDjokovic applied for a medical exemption which was granted following a rigorous review process involving two separate independent panels of medical experts,\u201d the Australian Open organizers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/tennis\/story\/_\/id\/32990613\/novak-djokovic-defend-australian-open-title-exemption-vaccination\">said<\/a>.&nbsp;\u201cOne of those was the Independent Medical Exemption Review Panel appointed by the Victorian Department of Health. They assessed all applications to see if they met the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation guidelines.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Craig Tiley, the CEO of Tennis Australia, had hinted on Monday that Djokovic may be among those granted a medical exemption to receiving a Chinese coronavirus vaccine.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery athlete coming into Australia has to be vaccinated and show proof of that, or has to have made application from a medical exemption,\u201d&nbsp;Tiley <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/australian-open\/unvaccinated-players-permission-australian-open-djokovic\/\">said<\/a> in an interview, insisting that tennis players faced a \u201cfar more rigorous\u201d process to receive an exemption than the general population. Tennis Australia had been under some pressure from pro-vaccine groups speculating that, due to Djokovic\u2019s position of power as the top tennis player in the world, he would receive preferential treatment.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWe know of athletes that have applied for an exemption and in cases, it\u2019s been granted,\u201d Tiley said. \u201cSome of those (players) have indicated that they\u2019re here, but that\u2019s up to the athlete, to disclose and [decide] whether they want to share that information.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs far as the status relates to Novak, we will have a much clearer picture in the coming days,\u201d he added. \u201cOtherwise, it\u2019s getting pretty late for him to show up and play in the Australian Open.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>Serbian news outlets had reported last week that the Australian government, which processes foreigners attempting to enter the country and the medical exemption application process, had denied Djokovic entry, <a href=\"https:\/\/au.sports.yahoo.com\/australian-open-2022-novak-djokovic-out-exemption-rejected-225437272.html\">citing<\/a> an unnamed \u201csource close to the Djokovic family.\u201d That conclusion appeared to be premature, however, and based more on the source\u2019s claims that Djokovic absolutely would not receive a Chinese coronavirus vaccination against his will just to participate in the Australian Open.<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic\u2019s father Srdjan had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/health\/2021\/11\/29\/father-novak-djokovic-probably-wont-play-australian-open-vaccine-blackmail\/\">asserted<\/a> as much in an interview in November, telling Serbian television that his son would not submit to \u201cblackmail\u201d and would \u201cprobably not\u201d be at the tournament.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs far as vaccines and non-vaccines [sic] are concerned, it is the personal right of each of us whether we will be vaccinated or not. No one has the right to enter into our intimacy, it is guaranteed by the constitution,\u201d Srdjan Djokovic said at the time. \u201cWhether he [Novak Djokovic] is vaccinated or not, that is his exclusive right. Will he publish it, I don\u2019t think so. I don\u2019t know that decision either, and if I did, I wouldn\u2019t share it with you.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B4\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cUnder these blackmails and conditions, he probably won\u2019t [be at the Australian Open,\u201d Srdjan concluded. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t do that. And he\u2019s my son, so you decide for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe will follow the same rules as anyone else would. There are no special rules for tennis players or anyone else,\u201d Prime Minister Morrison <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/national-security\/2021\/12\/10\/australia-pm-steps-in-as-officials-bicker-over-vaccine-mandate-for-tennis-star-novak-djokovic\/\">asserted<\/a> in an interview in December as controversy grew surrounding Djokovic and the mandate.&nbsp;\u201cThey apply by the same rules&nbsp;and that they are the rules in place&nbsp;for the Victorian government and the&nbsp;Australian Open itself and they have&nbsp;their rules.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tennis Australia once again weighed in that month after rumors began to spread that it was actively helping Djokovic apply for a medical exemption, which the organization called \u201csimply untrue.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Morrison said medical exemption \u201cdecisions&nbsp;are being made by medical officials&nbsp;and other officials, not by&nbsp;politicians,\u201d he insisted.<\/p>\n<p>The deputy premier of Victoria, James Merlino, in response to the headlines, asserted on Tuesday his government\u2019s \u201cexpectation\u201d was that Djokovic, and anyone else involved in any way with the tournament, would be vaccinated. The use of the word \u201cexpectation\u201d suggested that Tennis Australia would be responsible for ensuring the vaccination status of participants.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey\u2019re the rules. Medical exemptions are just that \u2013 it\u2019s not a loophole for privileged tennis players,\u201d Merlino&nbsp;<a class=\"x5l\" href=\"https:\/\/au.sports.yahoo.com\/djokovic-no-guarantee-medical-exemption-023629140.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny application for a medical exemption must follow strict government guidelines based on Atagi (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) clinical advice,\u201d the statement read, bouncing the responsibility back to the government. \u201cThis is the same process that applies to any person wanting to enter Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf he\u2019s vaccinated, we need evidence of that certificate and if he\u2019s not vaccinated and has a medical condition, he\u2019ll have to go through the medical exemption process and that\u2019s managed blind so we don\u2019t know who\u2019s making that application,\u201d Tiley insisted at the time. Tiley has repeatedly stated that the application process is blind, meaning that, in theory, the doctors who granted Djokovic\u2019s exemption do not know who the application belonged to.<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic has been among a small group of voices in sports and public life generally vocally opposing mandatory vaccinations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt doesn\u2019t really matter whether it\u2019s vaccination or anything else in life,\u201d Djokovic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/tennis\/news-djokovic-surprised-kyrgios-support-australian-open\">said<\/a> at a press conference in November. \u201cYou should have the freedom to choose, to decide what you want to do. In this particular case, what you want to put in your body. I have been always a proponent of that and always a supporter of freedom of choice, and I will be always supporting that because freedom is essential for I\u2019d say a happy and prosperous life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic\u2019s tone shift from opposing the Chinese coronavirus vaccine to merely opposing mandatory vaccination has been notable since 2020, during which he had considered the possibility of vaccine mandates long before much of the public had.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPersonally, I am opposed to vaccination,\u201d Djokovic&nbsp;<a class=\"x5l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/tennis\/story\/_\/id\/29069582\/novak-djokovic-says-keeping-open-mind-covid-19-vaccination\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\">said<\/a>&nbsp;in a Facebook post in April 2020. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel. But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Follow Frances Martel on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/francesimartel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/francesimartel\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1641384383116000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3plgjV19R-RDoJd0M_IYOp\">Facebook<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/francesmartel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/twitter.com\/francesmartel&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1641384383116000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2eMohb3jMGaEXCtnfYArj7\">Twitter.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked men\u2019s tennis player in the world, will compete in the Australian Open under an exemption to the coronavirus vaccine mandate in place there, the champion confirmed &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1187834","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1187834","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1187834"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1187834\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1187834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1187834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1187834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}