Posted on 03/09/2022 8:27:19 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Tennis player Novak Djokovic announced Wednesday he will not be competing in the Indian Wells Open or Miami Open, citing his unvaccinated status in face of rules by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on requiring vaccines for noncitizens to enter the United States.
“While I was automatically listed in the [Indian Wells Open] and [Miami Open] draw I knew it would be unlikely I’d be able to travel,” he wrote. “The CDC has confirmed that regulations won’t be changing so I won’t be able to play in the US. Good luck to those playing in these great tournaments.”
In addition to being vaccinated, noncitizens must also test negative for COVID-19 to enter the United States.
The Indian Wells Open is held March 7–20 and the Miami Open will be held March 22–April 3.
Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov will move into Djokovic’s position in the draw ahead of the start of the first round of the tournament on March 10.
Djokovic was previously unable to compete in the Australian Open after he was detained on Jan. 6. He left the country on Jan. 16 following a legal battle.
At the time, the Australian government decided to cancel Djokovic’s visa, but a federal court judge revoked the decision. Subsequently, Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke used his personal power to cancel Djokovic’s visa for a second time. Djokovic lost a court appeal to challenge the decision.
Hawke had claimed—despite conceding that the 34-year-old Serbian posed “negligible risk” of transmitting the coronavirus—that Djokovic was a “high-profile unvaccinated individual” who could stir up anti-vaccination sentiment in the country such that people may refuse to get vaccinated or get their booster shots. Attorneys for the Australian government said Djokovic could become an “icon of free choice” if allowed to stay.
Rafael Nadal went on to win the Australian Open and record his 21st Grand Slam title, breaking a three-way tie between himself, Djokovic, and Roger Federer for the number of Grand Slam titles.
In an interview with the BBC in mid-February, Djokovic said he is willing to skip Grand Slam tournaments over his unvaccinated status.
“I was never against vaccination,” he told the outlet, noting he had taken vaccines when he was a child, “but I’ve always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body.”
“Because the principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title or anything else. I’m trying to be in tune with my body as much as I possibly can,” he said.
France has loosened COVID-19 restrictions and is set to lift its vaccination mandates on March 14, which will enable Djokovic to compete in the French Open in May.
He should just slip in, via the wide open southern border...like all of XiDone’s illegals have done.
There’s no $hot requirement for all of those *visitors*.
These Vax Mandates are nothing more than lagging indicators.
Come on, people, get with the program.
Mandates are very ‘last month’. Haven’t you heard?
RE: He should just slip in, via the wide open southern border...like all of XiDone’s illegals have done.
Then what? Can he play?
Shane Warne was unavailable for comment...
“We’d like to welcome last minute entry to the tournament, Pedrovak Djomingo.”
I thought the mandates were over WTH???
What a travesty, all this “Scarlet Lettering”.
Priceless!
Warne must be ‘spinning’ in his grave
Brutal.
Not what I heard
and how long is it since the vaxxed tennis players had their last jab?
jab efficacy for most of them would have no doubt ended long ago, but hey, so what? it’s just theater and politics.
RE: Vaxx mandates are very “last month”...
Don’t kid yourself. Vaxx passports continue to expand in red and blue states.
If this is true, I'm wondering how many were dual-eligibles. If the seniors on public assistance had a higher mortality rate than those with Medicare or Medicare/MediGap, I don't think the Ukraine distraction is gonna cut it.
Mandates are just on hold for the election.
Speaking of vaxxes...
Seth Harp
@sethharpesq
Here are nine more US soldiers, all in their 20s or 30s, who recently died at Fort Bragg from “undetermined” causes, or after being discovered “unresponsive” in their bunks.
How can the US Army not know what is killing these soldiers?
No comment from Fort Bragg.
12:13 PM · Mar 9, 2022·Twitter Web App
And for those who don’t want to click on Twitter, a different link...
https://patriots.win/p/142B5e0GxC/treason/c/
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