Novak Djokovic deported, won't compete in Australian Open after bid to play unvaccinated fails [View all]

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

MELBOURNE, Australia — Tennis star Novak Djokovic has left Australia after losing his legal challenge to remain in the country and compete in the Australian Open despite not being vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Djokovic departed Australia at 10:39 p.m. local time, on an Emirates flight to Dubai.

After a weekend of hurried court hearings, a panel of three Australian federal justices unanimously upheld the immigration minister’s decision to cancel the unvaccinated athlete’s visa on the grounds that his presence in the country might incite anti-vaccine sentiment and “civil unrest,” clearing the way for the country to deport him and ending his hopes of competing in the Australian Open.

Although it would have been possible for Djokovic to appeal the ruling to Australia’s High Court, the timing of Sunday’s decision — roughly 24 hours before Djokovic was due to take to the tennis court — made another challenge unfeasible.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/15/novak-djokovic-australia-visa/