Special treatment
Djokovic criticised for medical exemption
SYDNEY - Seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion Jamie Murray was among those to question the decision to grant world No.1 Novak Djokovic a medical exemption from getting vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to compete at the Australian Open.
Djokovic, gunning for a 10th title at Melbourne Park later this month, was cleared to play in the year’s first major on Tuesday by Tennis Australia.
The governing body had stipulated that all participants must be vaccinated against the coronavirus or have a medical exemption granted by an independent panel of experts.
The panel would consist of doctors from the fields of immunology, infectious disease and general practice and the process was agreed in conjunction with the Victoria Department of Health.
Murray said it would had been difficult for him to get a similar exemption if he were in the Serbian’s place.
“I mean, I don’t know what to say about that really... I think if it was me who wasn’t vaccinated, I wouldn’t be getting an exemption,” the Briton said during the ATP Cup in Sydney.
“But well done to him for getting cleared to come to Australia and compete.”
Britain’s captain Liam Broady said there was no option, but to trust that Djokovic had a valid reason to seek an exemption.
Former British singles No.1 Andrew
Castle was less critical, telling the BBC that he wasn’t surprised by the reaction to the exemption but said it wasn’t unfair.
“We don’t know what Djokovic’s medical exemption is and we’ll never know because it’s private. But he must have one. We knew this would happen when exemptions were announced ... it’s not unfair because he satisfied two independent panels,” he said.
“I can understand the Australian public being furious,” added Castle. “No-one is arguing about his tennis, the concern here is leadership and the example he is setting, but it’s not mandatory to have the vaccination.”
The decision, however, was condemned by journalists and former athletes in Australia, who have had to endure multiple lockdowns because of COVID-19 over the past two years.
Melbourne-based broadcaster Andy Maher said: “Djokovic is an all-time great, but not essential.”
Former Australian Rules player Corey McKernan tweeted: “People with loved ones who are dying, some needing urgent treatment cannot get into their own states. You tell people they can’t go to Coles or a cafe without being vaxxed, but if you’re world No.1, you get a pass?”
Victory at the Australian Open, which gets underway on January 17, will give Djokovic his 21st major title, one more than the joint-record he shares with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
TOKYO - Former Australian rugby league international Blake Ferguson has been sacked by Japanese rugby union side NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu after he was arrested on suspicion of drug offences.
Ferguson, who recently switched codes after playing for more than a decade in Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL), joined the club after failing to secure a new deal with the Parramatta Eels at the end of the 2021 season.
However, Green Rockets, where former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is director of rugby, said it had cancelled the 31-year-old’s contract.
“Regarding Ferguson, the player contract was cancelled on January 2,” the club wrote in a statement.
In an earlier comment, the club confirmed Ferguson’s arrest “on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs”.
“We deeply apologise for causing a great deal of concern and inconvenience to everyone involved. Our team will co-operate fully with the police investigation and strives to understand the situation.”
New Zealander Joel Everson served 23 days in a Japanese prison in 2020 after testing positive for the use of cocaine while playing for Hino Red Dolphins. In a mark of how seriously rugby officials took the matter, all matches in the Top League were suspended for three weeks after Everson’s arrest and the Red Dolphins cancelled all their remaining fixtures for the season.