Novak Djokovic Wins First Round Of Court Battle, Freed From Detention, But Still Could Be Deported
The controversy over the cancellation of visa and detention of tennis star Novak Djokovic in Australia where he was scheduled to play in the Australian Open is far from over. On Monday the Serbian got a court relief as the Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly reinstated Djokovics visa. The judge ruled the No 1 player had not been given enough time to speak to his lawyers before that decision was made.
The controversy over the cancellation of visa and detention of tennis star Novak Djokovic in Australia where he was scheduled to play in the Australian Open is far from over.
On Monday, the Serbian got a court relief as the Federal Circuit Court Judge Anthony Kelly reinstated Djokovic's visa.
The judge ruled the No. 1 player had not been given enough time to speak to his lawyers before that decision was made and ordered the government to release him within 30 minutes from a Melbourne quarantine hotel where he has spent the last four nights.
AFP
But government lawyer Christopher Tran told the judge that the immigration minister ¡°will consider whether to exercise a personal power of cancellation.¡±
That would mean that the nine-time Australian Open winner and defending champion could again face deportation and could miss the tournament, which starts on Jan. 17. It could also bar him from the country for three years.
The 34-year-old, world no 1 ranked tennis player landed in a soup after Australia abruptly revoked his visa, which was granted based on a medical exemption.
Djokovic who has been called out in the past too for his disregard for COVID-19 protocols and organizing a tennis tournament during the first wave had also refused to disclose his vaccination status.
AFP
To participate in the Australian Open, Djokovic had sought a visa and had claimed medical exemption.
His lawyer had claimed that Djokovic had tested positive for COVID-19 in December.
However, Djokovic was seen in public, attending functions without wearing a mask, the day after he is said to have tested positive for COVID-19.
AFP
Australia, which has some of the toughest vaccine mandates both for citizens and immigrants had initially granted him a visa, which invited criticism from Australians.
Following this, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison stepped in and said that rules will be the same for everyone, and subsequently the visa was revoked.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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