Tennis Australia told players jetting into the country that a recent diagnosis of COVID-19 would be sufficient for a medical exemption, despite knowing the opposite to be true.
That’s according to a Herald Sun report, which published a TA document where the organisation told players they would be allowed to play if they had not been vaccinated but had been diagnosed with COVID-19 after July 31, 2021.
“Recent PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (after 31 July 2021), where vaccination can be deferred until six months after the infection,” TA’s document said.
“If you fall into this category, please provide laboratory PCR result from the first positive test, antibody levels if available and evidence of any previous or subsequent vaccinations if relevant.
“The current ATAGI guidance for those who have had a recent Covid infection is to be vaccinated once you have recovered from the acute illness.
“It may also assist the independent panel if you can provide a letter from your doctor or public health authority as to why you have not received a full dose of an approved vaccination following COVID-19 infection.”
That email to the ATP, which was then shared to players, is reportedly dated December 7, 2021, which is after Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt had written to tournament boss Craig Tiley to inform him contracting COVID in the past six months would not pass for a medical exemption.
While players were medically cleared to play the Australian Open, they had not received an exemption to come into Australia by the Border Force.
“The Australian Border Force has advised that people must be fully vaccinated, as defined by ATAGI (the national advisory body on vaccines) to gain quarantine-free entry into Australia,” Mr. Hunt wrote.
“In relation to your specific questions, I can confirm that people who contracted Covid-19 within the past six months and seek to enter Australia from overseas, and have not received two doses of a Therapeutic Goods Administration-approved or recognised vaccine are not considered fully vaccinated.”
“We encourage travellers to consult the requirements the state or territory they wish to enter to compete in the Australian Open and summer series lead-in events, to ensure they can meet the relevant entry requirements .
“I encourage sporting organisations, including Tennis Australia, to continue to work with the Australian Border Force, state and territory health authorities and venues on Covid-safe plans for events, including for international travel where this is relevant.”
Novak Djokovic is believed to have flown into the country with the intention of using a recent COVID diagnosis as his medical exemption.
Tennis Australia responded to the Herald Sun article late on Friday night, denying the publications’ claims TA had misled players.
“We have always been consistent in our communications to players that vaccination is the best course of action — not just as the right thing to do to protect themselves and others, but also as the best course of action to ensure they could arrive in Australia. We reject completely that the playing group was knowingly misled,” the statement said.
“Informing players they could get into the country on a medical exemption was taken from the Smart Traveller website that Greg Hunt directly referred us to.
“The purpose of this document was to explain eligibility to participate in the AO under Victorian laws which required that an exemption be in line with the ATAGI guidance.
“The summary of the ATAGI guidance in particular the information related to recent infection was new information taken from the expanded guidance issued by ATAGI.”
Djokovic is set to return to court on Monday as he battles to stay in the country in the hope of winning his fourth consecutive Australian Open.