Tennis player Novak Djokovic announced on Tuesday that he will defend his Australian Open champion title thanks to an exemption granted by the Government of Victoria, although due to the privacy of information, it is unknown why he received that opportunity. The Serbian has refused to reveal if he has been vaccinated against Covid-19, which is considered a requirement to participate in the contest unless there is a medical exemption.
According to statements compiled by the Australian newspaper The Herald Sun, attributed to a spokesman for the Victorian government, the tournament’s exemption policy consists of an “independent two-stage process” to verify whether any player has “a genuine medical condition that meet the criteria for an exemption ”.
The application is reviewed by a panel of experts in immunology, infectious diseases and general practice, according to the guidelines of the Australian Technical Advisory Group (ATAGI), and by the Independent Medical Exemption Review Panel, appointed by the state council of health of Victory.
The portal Break Point listed the conditions for which the Victorian government could grant an exemption: suffering from anaphylaxis to all Covid-19 vaccines, having suffered a serious adverse reaction to the first dose, an acute medical condition, an acute heart disease in the last six months, pregnancy or an adverse family history.
However, no further information will be released about the condition that led the world’s number one tennis player to receive the exemption for the independence of the information of any applicant, which has unleashed doubts about the legitimacy of his exemption and even the call to the exposition of the reasons that will allow you to compete.
“It would be good if Djokovic give some explanation, since I do not believe that any of this (assumptions of irregularities in the exemption) has occurred. You do not have the obligation to provide data regarding your privacy, but at the same time you must be aware that it is a world reference at a time of serious health crisis, at a time, also, of great sensitivity, due to the enormous pain that it is causing. the virus, “wrote Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s former coach, in his column in The country.
The Serbian medium Blitz Sport He had anticipated on November 28 that they would grant the exemption to Djokovic, “otherwise, it would be a great blow for the tournament,” he said.
“I don’t know what to say about it, really. I think if I had been the one who was not vaccinated, I would not have gotten any exemptions … that is so. Congratulations to Djokovic for coming to Australia and competing, “said British tennis player Jamie Murray.
Legitimacy aside, former Australian Medical Association Vice President Stephen Parnis tweeted that the exemption sent an “egregious” message to people trying to stop the spread of Covid-19.
“If this exemption is true, it sends an egregious message to millions seeking to reduce the risk of Covid-19 to themselves and others. Vaccination shows respect, Novak ”, said the specialist.
Instead, tennis players like the American Tennys Sandgren or french Pierre-Hugues Herbert, they gave up playing the Australian Open and did not request an exemption as they did not meet any of the criteria announced by the Australian government to be able to play the tournament.
“I don’t take it badly, it’s something that doesn’t shock me, that doesn’t surprise me. I think you are not the only one who has received an exemption. (…) If your exemption was accepted, it would be for valid reasons. After living the strict Australian Open protocol last year, I thought the answer would be no, but I am pleasantly surprised, ”Herbert told The team.
A separate case is that of the Russian tennis player Natalia Vikhlyantseva, current 194 of the WTA ranking, who received the two doses of the Sputnik vaccine, a compound that the Australian authorities have not recognized and authorized, stating that “there is not enough data or valid information to adequately demonstrate that it offers protection”, such as assured the Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA).
Djokovic now you have the opportunity to make history in the Australian Open, an event he has won nine different times, and breaking the tie with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer for the most Grand Slam titles (20).
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Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx