ABF investigates two other Tennis Australia medical exemptions following Novak Djokovic’s visa revocation

The Australian Border Force (ABF) is investigating another foreign tennis player and official who was granted a medical exemption by Tennis Australia just hours after the world’s number one Novak Djokovic’s visa was revoked.

Djokovic arrived at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport on Wednesday night, but was arrested by ABF after finding that he did not meet the entry requirements for an unvaccinated passenger.

An hour earlier, ABC had revealed that ABF’s incumbent Commissioner, Dwayne Freeman, had begun investigating the “problem” of an Australian travel announcement sent by a tennis star before he flew to Melbourne.

Late Thursday, an ABF spokesman confirmed that documents provided by two other people who had recently traveled to Australia were also examined to determine whether they met the entry requirements for unvaccinated arrivals.

“ABF is aware of two other individuals who have used the same letter of exemption issued by Tennis Australia as a basis for medical exemption when traveling to Australia,” a spokesman told ABC.

“ABF is conducting inquiries regarding these individuals as the investigation is ongoing, we will not comment further at this stage.”

An official who knows about Djokovic’s case said authorities began to investigate the Serb’s conditions closely after he announced on social media on Tuesday that he was “on the way down with exceptional permission.”

The 34-year-old man had tried to enter Australia on the grounds that he had been infected with COVID-19 in the last six months and had been granted a valid exemption from vaccination by Tennis Australia.

Government sources say Djokovic gave border officials a medical exemption on a letter from Tennis Australia, which had been signed by the chief medical officer of the organization, but this was rejected.

In November, Health Minister Greg Hunt wrote to Craig Tiley, CEO of Tennis Australia, that players seeking to enter the country would not receive vaccination exemptions if they had recently contracted COVID-19.

“Australia’s border forces have advised that people must be fully vaccinated as defined by ATAGI in order for them to enter Australia without quarantine,” Hunt wrote on 29 November.

“I can confirm that people who have been infected with COVID-19 in the last six months and are seeking to enter Australia from abroad have not received two doses of a vaccine approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) or recognized by the TGA (or one dose of Johnson and Johnson COVID -19 vaccine) is not considered to have been fully vaccinated “.

Speaking to Radio 2GB, Home Secretary Karen Andrews confirmed that the Border Force is now investigating two recent arrivals holding Tennis Australia papers and did not rule out the possibility of being sent back home.

“I am aware of these allegations and I can assure you that the Australian border forces are investigating now,” Andrews said.

“ABF needs an opportunity to conduct its investigation, but if there is no evidence, they will take the necessary action.”