Novak Djokovic.Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty
Just a month after his vaccination status ended his chance to compete in the2022 Australian Open,Novak Djokovicsays he has no problem missing the next two majors.
“I understand the consequences of my decision,” Djokovic told BBC. “I understand that not being vaccinated today, you know, I am unable to travel to most of the tournaments at the moment.”
Djokovic also told the outlet that, though he is not opposed to vaccines, having “the freedom to choose what you put into your body” is more important than winning any titles for the sport.
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Sarah Stier/Getty
“I am trying to be in tune with my body as much as I possibly can,” he said, noting that he’s very mindful of what he ingests. “Based on all the information that I got, I decided not to take the vaccine, as of today.”
Last month, France’s parliament approved a law requiring COVID vaccines in all public places. French Minister of Sports Roxana Maracineanu explained that the law also requires all athletes — including those from foreign countries — to be vaccinated to participate in French sporting events.
Maracineanuaddedon Twitter, “We will work together to preserve the competitions and to be the ambassadors of these measures at the international level.”
Novak Djokovic.Corinne Dubreuil/Abaca/Sipa via AP Images
Additionally, the French Sports Ministry stated that there will be no exemptions for the French Open.
“As far as Roland Garros is concerned, it’s in May. The situation may change between now and then and we hope it’ll be more favorable. So we’ll see but clearly there’s no exemption,” the ministry said, perReuters.
The announcement came just days after Djokovic’s visa was revoked for the second time in Australia. The 20-time Grand Slam champion received a COVID-19 vaccine medical exemption to play in the Australian Open, but was later forced toleave the countryafter Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke canceled his visa.
Hawke said in astatementthat he was canceling Djokovic’s visa “on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so.” He assured that the government is “firmly committed to protecting Australia’s borders, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
source: people.com
