On his arrival in Melbourne, tennis great Novak Djokovic's visa was abruptly canceled.
World’s number one was detained for many hours in the city's airport before border officials revealed that he had broken entrance restrictions and would be deported.
He has been brought to a government detention hotel until his departure on an outgoing aircraft, according to reports.
The news comes after a controversy over Djokovic's claim to a vaccination exemption that allowed him to compete in the Australian Open.
Djokovic hasn't revealed if he's vaccinated, although he did say last year that he was "anti-vaccination."
Tennis Australia said that Djokovic had received a medical exemption "after a thorough evaluation procedure involving two different independent panels," however issues arose when he landed in Melbourne late Wednesday from Dubai.
Djokovic "failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently cancelled," the Australian Border Force said in a statement.
It was further added that “Non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa on entry or who have had their visa cancelled will be detained and removed from Australia.”
According to local media, Djokovic may file a court appeal or ask for a fresh visa to re-enter and compete in the event.
According to sources he was brought from the airport to a hotel in the Melbourne neighborhood of Carlton that serves as an immigration holding facility. According to local media, the facility has been the location of Covid-19 outbreaks and a recent fire.
Djokovic's treatment had been termed as "tough" but "fair" by Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt, who added that "under this Australian government, there is one rule for everybody."
However, in his home Serbia, the tennis player's treatment has sparked an uproar. Srdjan Djokovic, his father, said his son was detained at the airport and confined in a room secured by cops.
In a released statement, Novak said, “This is not just a fight for Novak, but a fight for the whole world.”
President Aleksander Vucic stated the celebrity had been subjected to "harassment" and that "the whole of Serbia" was with him.
On his arrival in Melbourne, tennis great Novak Djokovic's visa was abruptly canceled.
World’s number one was detained for many hours in the city's airport before border officials revealed that he had broken entrance restrictions and would be deported.
He has been brought to a government detention hotel until his departure on an outgoing aircraft, according to reports.
The news comes after a controversy over Djokovic's claim to a vaccination exemption that allowed him to compete in the Australian Open.
Djokovic hasn't revealed if he's vaccinated, although he did say last year that he was "anti-vaccination."
Tennis Australia said that Djokovic had received a medical exemption "after a thorough evaluation procedure involving two different independent panels," however issues arose when he landed in Melbourne late Wednesday from Dubai.
Djokovic "failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently cancelled," the Australian Border Force said in a statement.
It was further added that “Non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa on entry or who have had their visa cancelled will be detained and removed from Australia.”
According to local media, Djokovic may file a court appeal or ask for a fresh visa to re-enter and compete in the event.
According to sources he was brought from the airport to a hotel in the Melbourne neighborhood of Carlton that serves as an immigration holding facility. According to local media, the facility has been the location of Covid-19 outbreaks and a recent fire.
Djokovic's treatment had been termed as "tough" but "fair" by Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt, who added that "under this Australian government, there is one rule for everybody."
However, in his home Serbia, the tennis player's treatment has sparked an uproar. Srdjan Djokovic, his father, said his son was detained at the airport and confined in a room secured by cops.
In a released statement, Novak said, “This is not just a fight for Novak, but a fight for the whole world.”
President Aleksander Vucic stated the celebrity had been subjected to "harassment" and that "the whole of Serbia" was with him.