Smoking gun for Tennis Australia

This is the smoking gun that proves Tennis Australia wrongly – and knowingly – told tennis players how they could play in the first grand slam of the year.

Novak Djokovic. Picture: Getty Images

This is the smoking gun that proves Tennis Australia wrongly – and knowingly – told the world’s best tennis players, including mens No.1 Novak Djokovic, how they could play in the first grand slam of the year, even though it knew the proper rules for players who were unvaccinated against Covid were not as clear cut.

An information sheet was emailed by TA to the Association of Tennis Professionals early last month and then passed on to the world’s top players. It shows TA informed players there was a two-step process to follow so they could play in the Australian Open without being vaccinated.

The advice included a clause whereby players needed to prove they had contracted the virus in the past six months. This is presumed to be the basis for Djokovic’s exemption, although it was withdrawn when he arrived.

The problem is that the information sent to the ATP and the players was incorrect, and TA had already been told that.

Dated December 7, 2021, the email was sent after the federal government had already notified TA in writing in November that a prior infection did not meet the requirements for quarantine-free travel to Australia.

The timing is critical because it points the blame for the whole ­fiasco at TA, and backs up claims by acting Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan that the Andrews government was not told by TA that the commonwealth had warned them prior Covid infection was not a genuine medical exemption.

In the document that was sent to the players, a covering letter outlines the two-stage process ­required for an unvaccinated competitor to be allowed to enter the championship.

The letter states that a player first needed an overseas medical exemption certificate to enter Australia, then a second exemption to play in the tournament.

The second exemption had to be signed off by an independent Australian medical practitioner or by a panel of expert medical personnel. The letter included a link for players to have their ­application reviewed by the independent panel, with a deadline of December 10.

Critically, the document also contained what it said was an outline of valid reasons for a temporary medical exemption, including the following, which has since been found to be different to the requirements for quarantine-free arrival into Australia: “Recent PCR-confirmed Covid-19 infection (after 31 July 2021), where vaccination can be deferred until six months after the infection. 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 letter stated.

“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.”

The document also included a note claiming the information contained in it was all correct.

“As you are aware we have been urgently seeking clarification from Australian federal and state public health authorities around the assessment of medical exemptions as they ­relate to the Australian Open. Specifically, we have sought urgent clarification in relation to what will be accepted as proof of a valid medical exemption, and the position with respect to persons who have previously had Covid-19 in the past six months.

“We have now received further information and are in a position to expand on the advice we previously provided.”