A Czech doubles player has won the right to have her Australian visa reinstated after a tribunal concluded that she did not violate its conditions.
Renata Voracova was kicked out of the country despite already playing in one tournament due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19. She had been originally allowed to enter the country with a special exemption that was granted to her after she experienced an adverse reaction to a covid infection. However, she ended up being deported from the country in the wake of a high-profile legal dispute between Novak Djokovic and authorities over the legitimacy of his visa. Djokovic, who is unvaccinated, was also deported from the country.
According to The Age newspaper, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia has ruled in favour of Voracova by stating that her situation was different to that of the former men’s world No.1. During a hearing, it was concluded that there was no evidence the Czech violated the terms of her visa. She was issued a bridging visa after negotiations between her legal team and the Australian Border Force. This visa is issued to individuals in certain circumstances which allows them to stay in the country while their immigration status is resolved.
“There was no evidence Ms Voracova failed to comply with her visa conditions,” the tribunal’s written findings outlined.
“She had followed all relevant rules and there was evidence she had relied on representations made to her by Tennis Australia and the Department of Health in Victoria about her medical exemption.
“I accept the submission that there was no law preventing Ms Voracova from entering Australia at the relevant time even though she was unvaccinated.
“She truthfully answered the travel declaration and she had cogent medical evidence to support her exemption, being the evidence provided by her general practitioner about her vulnerability to thrombosis.
“Notably, Ms Voracova did not need to rely on the fact that she had previously contracted COVID-19 as a medical contraindication to vaccination because she had a medical basis to delay vaccination.”
According to Jan Redfern, the tribunal’s vice president and head of the migration and refugee division, there are certain things that separates Voracova’s case from that of Djokovic’s. This is due to the fact she was never against the concept of receiving a vaccination. According to Redfern’s findings, the government ‘apparently found there was evidence Mr Djokovic had shown a disregard for the self-isolation protocols.’
Another deciding factor which ruled in Voracova’s favour was that it was deemed that if a three-year ban implemented on her remained it would have ‘harmed her career.’ It is understood that the decision to reinstate her visa was made on February 8 but has only been made public now.
Voracova is currently ranked 102 in the world for doubles but has been ranked as high as 29th. The 38-year-old has won 11 Tour titles and is a former Wimbledon doubles semi-finalist. In singles, she reached a career best of No.74 back in 2010.
As for Djokovic, it remains to be seen if he will be able to return next year. At present, he currently has a three-year ban from entering Australia as a result of his deportation. However, that ban can be lifted should the Australian government decide to do so.
