Google News Brad Gilbert: If Novak Djokovic is denied, others with medical exemption should too
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 9132
Brad Gilbert says if Novak Djokovic is denied to play the Australian Open so should the other players who are set to play under the medical exemption. Djokovic flew to Australia but he is still at the border because he reportedly tried to enter the country with the wrong type of visa.
“Hey Brad, the other way around seems fair as well, if Djokovic is allowed to play, so should the other players, who for whatever reason have not been vaccinated and needed an exemption. Also, transparency is key. It should be revealed reason for exemption.
How can people trust?” Gilbert was asked. Gilbert responded: “Totally agree with that, just saying if Djoker ends up getting denied to play, the other players who we don’t know about should get exactly the same sent home”.
Djokovic announced the news a day earlier
On Tuesday, Djokovic announced he was granted a medical exemption into the Australian Open. “Happy New Year, everybody! Wishing you all health, love, and happiness in every present moment and may you feel love & respect towards all beings on this wonderful planet," Djokovic said in an Instagram post.
"I’ve spent fantastic quality time with my loved ones over the break and today I’m heading Down Under with an exemption permission. Let’s go 2022!" Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley defended the decision, saying Djokovic wasn’t a subject to a special favor.
“If they didn’t meet the guidelines, and there were many that didn’t so therefore they were rejected, but if they met the guidelines including for example – which a lot of people forget – is one of those conditions is having COVID recently, in the past six months,” Tiley said on Nine on Wednesday morning.
“Any person who met those conditions has been allowed to come in. There’s been no special favour. There’s been no special opportunity granted to Novak”.
