Djokovic’s lawyers say he received the exemption after contracting COVID in December

MADRID, 8 One. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The lawyers of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic, held in a hotel upon arrival in Melbourne (Australia) for not having the necessary coronavirus vaccines to enter the country, assure that the player received a medical exemption to play the Australian Open after contracting COVID-19 last December.

In court documents published this Saturday in the media, it is stated that the Balkan tennis player registered a positive test for COVID-19 on December 16 and that “he has not had a fever or respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 72 hours.”

Djokovic has been detained at an immigration center in Melbourne since Thursday morning after his visa was canceled after reviewing the medical exemption he had submitted to travel to Australia to participate in the first ‘Grand Slam’ of the season.

According to his legal team, Djokovic received a letter from the medical director of the Australian Tennis Federation (Tennis Australia) recording that he had a medical exemption from vaccination against the coronavirus.

Their attorneys contend that the medical exemption certificate was “provided by an Independent Expert Medical Review panel commissioned by Tennis Australia”, and that “that panel’s decision had been reviewed and endorsed by a Government Medical Exemption Review Panel. of the State of Victoria “.

In addition, they explained that he was granted an authorization to travel because the authorities told him that he met “the requirements to arrive in Australia without quarantine.” Now, Djokovic will have to wait for a hearing that will take place on Monday to find out whether or not he will be able to play the Australian Open.