MELBOURNE (REUTERS) – Australian Open event director Craig Tiley mentioned gamers making use of for a medical exemption to take part within the Grand Slam with out being vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19 can have their case reviewed by an impartial three-person panel.
Tennis Australia mentioned the panel would encompass medical doctors from the fields of immunology, infectious illness and normal follow and that the transfer had been agreed along side the Victoria Division of Well being.
Tiley had beforehand mentioned all gamers have to be inoculated in opposition to Covid-19, with the transfer throwing the involvement of defending champion Novak Djokovic into doubt because the world No. 1 has but to reveal his vaccination standing.
“We have labored carefully with the Victorian authorities to determine truthful and impartial protocols for assessing medical exemption functions that can allow us to make sure Australian Open 2022 is secure and gratifying for everyone,” Tiley mentioned.
“Central to this course of is that the selections will probably be made by impartial medical consultants and that each applicant will get due consideration.”
The Melbourne Park event, the primary Grand Slam of the yr, is because of start on Jan 17.
Candidates that go an preliminary stage will probably be topic to a second evaluation performed by a government-appointed panel of medical consultants earlier than the appliance is submitted to the Australian Immunisation Register.
All submissions will probably be confidential, Tennis Australia mentioned.
Martin Pakula, Victoria state’s sports activities minister, mentioned the method may set a precedent for different huge occasions.
“We’re glad there’s some rigour across the course of, we expect it results in the absolute best outcomes,” he added.
“They need the most secure potential occasion for gamers and followers. That includes having essentially the most rigorous medical exemption course of.”
