guanzishou
G.O.A.T.
Djokovic has not received medical exemption to participate in Australian Open, Tennis Australia boss
Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley told ABC's News Breakfast that Australian Open players were subject to the same vaccination rules as any other visitor to Victoria and Australia.
www.abc.net.au
Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley has confirmed that Novak Djokovic has not received a medical exemption to participate in the Australian Open.
Key points:
- Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley confirmed tennis players must be fully vaccinated to participate in the tournament
- Players can apply for a medical exemption which is assessed by an independent panel
- Tiley confirmed tennis players are subject to the same rules as any other person applying for an exemption
While Djokovic was this week named on the event's main entry list, this does not mean he will participate in the 2022 Australian Open.
Speaking on ABC's News Breakfast, Tiley said all players were named on the tournament's entry list, but it will be several weeks until it is confirmed if Djokovic is eligible to participate.
The nine-time men's Australian Open champion has so far refused to confirm his vaccination status, while his father claimed he would likely skip the tournament unless COVID-19 vaccination rules were relaxed.
Tiley, however, said the rules on vaccination were clear.
"No-one can play the Australian Open unless they are vaccinated — either a double-dose of the required vaccines, or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson, which is an approved vaccine," Tiley said.
"The only condition outside of being vaccinated that you could compete is if you received a medically approved exemption from Australian authorities."
Such an exemption, said Tiley, would need to meet ATAGI guidelines, and be approved by an independently appointed panel.
"There is an independent panel of medical specialists, and they see a blind copy of the medical exemption request," Tiley said.
"That goes to that expert panel, and they will make the call."
Pressed on whether tennis players were eligible for any kind of special exemption, Tiley said they were not.
"International tennis players have the exact same conditions as anyone coming to Victoria or [to] Australia.
"No benefit is provided to them under any condition [other than an approved medical exemption]."
Tiley also confirmed that, at present, no tennis players had received an exemption from being vaccinated.
"There has been no medical exemptions that have been granted this morning."
According to Tiley, about 95 per cent of the tennis community is now fully vaccinated.
"We are now in a position, [where] over six weeks ago, 50 per cent of tennis players globally were vaccinated, and now it is more than 95 per cent. That is a significant improvement."
The Australian Open starts in Melbourne on Monday, January 17, 2022.
