Novak Djokovic‘s lawyers have confirmed his medical exemption application to play at the Australian Open was based on him having recovered from COVID-19 infection.
In submissions filed in court on Saturday, Djokovic’s legal team states the Serbian superstar had tested positive for coronavirus on December 16.
The infection was not publicly announced at the time.
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Lawyers say 14 days after the test, Djokovic “had not had a fever or respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 72 hours” and stress his medical exemption was granted by two independent panels, off the back of ATAGI’s recommendations.
Djokovic’s lawyers also claim that he received a letter from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs indicating that he met the conditions for quarantine-free travel to Australia.
The defending AO champion is currently being detained in a Melbourne hotel until his bid to remain in Australia is heard in court on Monday.
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However, his lawyers say Djokovic, 34, has asked to be moved from the hotel lockdown so he can begin training for the AO.
Also in the documents, lawyers claim Djokovic was held for questioning at Melbourne Airport for about eight hours before being whisked away to the Park Hotel.
They are arguing Djokovic was denied fair process and access to his legal team during the airport grilling.
The documents show that on 4.11am on Thursday, after flying from Dubai, Djokovic “was purportedly given a notice of intention to consider cancellation” of his visa.
An interview then began at 6.07am and at 7.29am the decision was made to cancel his visa, with Djokovic notified of the decision moments earlier at 7.42am.
Djokovic also tested positive for COVID-19 in 2020 after the ill-fated Adria Tour exhibition tournament.
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