What A Joke? One Of The Greatest Active Tennis Players Is Barred From Playing In U.S. For Not Taking COVID Vaccine
Novak Djokovic makes a living playing tennis. And the 35-year-old Serbian has won 22 Grand Slam titles, a feat accomplished by only one other player, Rafael Nadal — so he’s pretty good.
Djokovic was banned by President Joe Biden from visiting the United States in order to play. He claimed that his refusal to receive COVID vaccine makes him dangerous.
Djokovic had been reluctant to receive the vaccine for many years. It seemed almost petty at first. It was the pandemic of deadly disease, so most people experienced a feeling of belonging when they took the shot.
Djokovic appears to have been right, despite world-class athletes dropping their lives all around the globe. His body was his decision. So he didn’t put any strange substance in his well-honed, athletic body.
He isn’t against vaccines as he stated in 2020. However, he strongly opposes forced vaccination. “The principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title or anything else,” He said.
In late 2021, however, the Association of Tennis Professionals decided that Djokovic couldn’t participate in the Australian Open. This was a major he had won in 2018. Djokovic, who was then No. 1 ranking He held the title for 373 consecutive weeks, a record. Djokovic was then banned by the U.S. government from coming to America to compete in the U.S. Open.
All that seems so long ago. Most Americans — and most of the world, too — have moved on, returning to normal life. COVID is no longer a pandemic. For many people who contract the virus, the symptoms are more similar to the flu.
Djokovic had to cancel his participation in the Indian Wells event in California due to nationwide vaccine requirements. The Department of Homeland Security rejected Djokovic’s request to allow him to travel the U.S. with no vaccine. The Miami Open was his scheduled date, however, it is now up for debate whether he will be participating in the tournament.
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All of this, while the pandemic continues to erupt “over.” That’s not us saying that — it was Biden.
Biden was elected to the presidency in September 2007. declared: “The pandemic is over. We still have a problem with COVID. We’re still doing a lotta work on it. It’s – but the pandemic is over. if you notice, no one’s wearing masks. Everybody seems to be in pretty good shape. And so I think it’s changing. And I think this is a perfect example of it.”
Florida Republican Senators. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott urged President Biden to allow Djokovic to enter the country. Djokovic does not pose a threat to the public, according to the letter that was written by Scott and Rubio to Biden.
“Mr. Djokovic is a world-class athlete in peak physical condition who is not at high-risk of severe complications from COVID-19,” In the letter, the duo states. “It seems both illogical and misaligned with the opinions of your own administration to not grant him the waiver he requests so that he may travel to the U.S. to compete in a professional event.”
“The lack of public health risk, along with the clear benefit of his participation in an event that will be a major driver of our local economies should make the decision before you simple and serve as a precedent for others in his position,” The letter goes on. “while hopefully leading to the full reversal of this mandate for other foreign visitors who wish to legally travel to our great nation.”
Djokovic, an internationally prominent foreigner, is no surprise. According to the U.S. Travel Association, “America’s outdated vaccine policy for international visitors is an unforced error that is contributing to an $80 billion loss in foreign traveler spending.”
“Novak Djokovic is merely one of millions of travelers deterred from visiting the United States due to a well-intended but antiquated policy. It is well past time for the United States to join with its peers in Europe, Australia and elsewhere and remove pandemic vaccine requirements for our international guests,” The association stated in statement Monday.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect those of The Daily Wire.
Joseph Curl is a 35-year veteran of politics, having served 12 years as a White House correspondent in a national newspaper. For four years, he was the Drudge Report’s a.m. Editor. Send tips to [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.
“The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author of the article and not necessarily shared or endorsed by Conservative News Daily”
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