Sonali Paul

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) –An Australian court ruled that Novak Djokovic was not allowed to challenge his visa cancellation. The minister who revoked the visa reasonably thought Djokovic may pose a threat to the community, as he is not vaccinated for COVID-19.

Federal Court also dismissed the claim that Djokovic never urged people not to be vaccinated. The court stated that it was easy to assume that the public would think he opposed vaccinations because he himself had not been vaccinated.

An iconic tennis player may inspire people from all walks of life, old or young, and perhaps even the most impressionable to follow his lead. Judges said that it is not absurd and doesn’t require any evidence.

Djokovic’s story has ignited global debate about who can get vaccines and how governments should protect communities from the coronavirus pandemic.

Djokovic was expelled from Australia after he tried to remain in Australia to compete at the Australian Open.

This was followed by an eleven-day rollercoaster that involved two visa cancellations and two court challenges. It also included five nights at an asylum detention facility where asylum seekers are kept.

His lawyers had suggested that the cancellation be overturned on grounds that Alex Hawke (Immigration Minister) was not rational. They also claimed there wasn’t enough evidence to support the claim that Djokovic’s presence here in Australia might inspire anti-vaccination sentiment.

Federal Court ruled that while another minister could have refused to cancel the visa’s cancellation, Alex Hawke, the Immigration Minister, had followed the correct steps according to law. This law allows him to cancel any visa so long as it is not a threat to the Australian community or to the health of visa holders.

In their Thursday reasons, Chief Justice James Allsop said that “the minister reached that level of satisfaction on grounds which cannot be called irrational, illogical or non-based on relevant material.”

Following an emergency weekend hearing, the court dismissed the case. The court stated it would release the reasons shortly after, because it wanted Djokovic’s decision to be made before the Australian Open.

Serbian tennis Grand Slam winner, the French Open, is now at risk. The country’s Sports Ministry said that there will be no exemption to a Sunday approved vaccine law.