Surfing legend Kelly Slater has been told categorically he won’t be allowed into Australia unless he gets a COVID-19 vaccination.
The 11-time world champion has refused to disclose his vaccination status and has previously stated he’s not anti-vaccination, but against making it compulsory.
He has, though, publicly defended controversial American podcaster Joe Rogan on Twitter over his dangerous health advice, and more recently criticised the Australian government for kicking Novak Djokovic out of the country.
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After Djokovic was deported on Sunday, Slater took to social media to proclaim “maybe Stockholm Syndrome can now change its name to Melbourne/Australia syndrome” and “so much brainwashed hatred in people’s hearts regardless of vax status”. The post is no longer on his social media accounts.
But Slater now faces the same fate as Djokovic – being barred from entering Australia – unless he gets vaccinated or proves he is eligible for an exemption.
That will be problematic if he wants to compete in the two World Surf League championship events Down Under – in Victoria in April, and then in Western Australia.
Federal Sports Minister Richard Colbeck said Slater “has no chance of getting into the country” if he is not vaccinated.
“I reckon he knows the rules. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a surfer, or a tennis player, a tourist or anyone else, those are the rules. They apply to everyone,” Colbeck said.
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“I don’t like the chances of him competing in Victoria, and I’d hate to think of what the chances were of him competing in Western Australia.”
Australian senator Jacqui Lambie also lambasted Slater for believing he can compete without being vaccinated against COVID-19.
“You might want to tell Kelly Slater we are not the only country putting our foot down on this,” Lambie told Nine’s Today.
“These sports people need to realise most countries over the next few months, that is where it is going.
“Unless you are double-vaxxed and lining up for your booster, you ain’t coming. That happened last week to another sports star.”
Current world surfing No.1 Gabriel Medina has also refused to disclose his vaccination status.
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