Tennis Australia speaks of “rigorous review process”
The officials of the most important sporting event in Australia were quick to seek sovereignty. The association Tennis Australia wrote in a press release an hour after Djokovic’s post that Djokovic’s request for a medical exemption after a “rigorous testing process“Two independent groups of medical experts have been approved. The 34-year-old superstar is not the only player in Melbourne who will play unvaccinated. And with independence, too, there is room for interpretation.
A few days ago, the Australian media had quoted the tournament director of the Australian Open, Craig Tiley, as saying that it was already “a hand full“Unvaccinated players in Australia with an approved exception. This is stricter for players than for other guests.
Doctors check applications “blindly”
Accordingly, two groups of experts examine all applications for medical exemptions “and they approach it blindly – so the medical professionals do not know who the applicant is“is, so Tiley. The reason for a permit remains under lock and key and only between the applicant and the expert council. Tennis Australia tried in the press release on Tuesday to list the medical process transparently. Question marks remain.
The government writes in its own statement that the first application for an exemption had to be made directly to Tennis Australia. The association set up a group of experts, so the association had at least an indirect influence on the selection of doctors. Only after confirmation does a second group of medics come into play, and they have been used exclusively by the government.
How accurate was Djokovic’s proposal?
On the other hand, Djokovic remains unclear. Different Serbian media reports wavered in one direction, then in the other. According to information from the sports show, Djokovic’s first attempt was initially not complete enough for the doctors.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group of Immunization (ATAGI), which provides the second independent group, published an update on November 26th with the criteria for medical exemption regulations. Temporary permits are therefore only given to people who are seriously ill. Among other things, cardiological problems, severe consequences of vaccinations or serious operations in the recent past are listed there. There is also the possibility of approval if a Covid infection took place after August 1, 2021.
The American Tennys Sandgren, who reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in 2018, withdrew his participation unvaccinated in Melbourne. He confirmed to an American reporter that he had not applied for an exemption because none of the reasons applied to him.
According to information from “Indian Tennis daily”, the Indian youth player Aman Dahiya was denied a special permit for the junior event in Melbourne. His reason for the application: As an under 18-year-old in India, he had not yet received any vaccinations. In addition, there are athletes from Eastern European countries whose vaccinations have not been recognized and therefore do not start in Australia.
How do the fans react?
One thing is certain: Not only Djokovic has received a medical exemption – but at least five other actors. All had to prove that they are seriously ill in the form mentioned above. At the same time, these athletes want and can participate in top-class sport. Or they have tested positive in the past six months. Djokovic is known to have been infected with the virus for the first time in spring 2020.
Djokovic has a large fan base in Australia. With the number of infections rising dramatically in Victoria (more than 14,000 cases on Tuesday) and a vaccination rate of around 90 percent after one of the world’s toughest lockdowns, many observers are excited about the reactions of the fans on site for the series winner.
Status: 04.01.2022, 3:19 pm